In the last week and a bit, passengers faced scary situations during flights. Scandinavian Airlines bound for Florida experienced severe turbulence, while Spirit Airlines opted for an emergency landing after multiple gunshots struck the plane.
Just a couple of days ago, last week on Friday, passengers leaving Dallas Love Field heard a “rattling noise.” Initially, passengers believed the plane suffered from mechanical issues. However, it was later revealed that it was in fact a bullet that struck the plane.
Let’s take a look at the very latest update, and what passengers on the flight had to say about the experience. We’ll also reveal the statement from Southwest, and how they compensated passengers.
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The Pilot Told Southwest Passengers There Was A “Rattling Sound”
Last Friday at around 8:30 PM, a Boeing 737-800 aircraft was struck by gunfire near the cockpit. The flight was from Dallas Love Field, headed towards Indianapolis International Airport. Thankfully, no injuries were reported, and the plane returned to the gate.
The aircraft was ultimately removed from service, while another flight was offered in its place.
At the time of the incident, passengers weren’t exactly sure what had taken place. James and Shannon Lee were both on the Southwest flight, and were under the impression that a rattling sound caused a delay.
James Lee tells NBC News, “The pilot came on the speaker system and said, ‘There’s a rattling sound outside.'” His wife Shannon Lee added, “We all got on the next flight thinking it was a mechanical issue of Southwest.”
The passenger added, “That’s very concerning cause with a bullet, it could hit anywhere.”
Southwest later issued a statement that the flight safely taxied back to the terminal at Dallas Love Field.
As for the passenger concerns, Southwest Airlines apologized for the inconvenience, and offered vouchers in return for future travel.
The airline wrote in a statement, “Southwest Airlines has been in contact with the customers who were aboard Flight 2494 on Friday night. In addition to offering them vouchers for future travel, we apologized for the inconvenience and stressed that the safety of our customers and crew were our top priority. “
The statement added that the flight to Indianapolis was allowed to continue after the Dallas police assessed that there weren’t any ongoing risks.
As of Tuesday, the search continues for the gunman that shot at the Southwest Airlines plane.
With Thanksgiving looming near, security is the top priority for airports across America.
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Spirit Airlines Flight NK951 Also Diverted Back To The Dominican Republic Following Gun Shots During Landing Attempt In Haiti
Spirit Airlines yellow plane in the sky.
Just a few days prior, a separate incident took place on the route to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, from Fort Lauderdale. An emergency landing took place at the Santiago, Dominican Republic airport after multiple gun shots struck the plane last Monday. The aircraft was able to make a safe landing, while one flight attendant sustained minor injuries.
The flight returned to Fort Lauderdale for a replacement aircraft. Similar to Southwest, Spirit’s goal following the incident was the safety of its passengers.
“Spirit Airlines flight 951 from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Port-au-Prince (PAP) diverted and landed safely in Santiago, Dominican Republic (STI). Following the flight’s arrival at STI, an inspection revealed evidence of damage to the aircraft consistent with gunfire. One Flight Attendant on board reported minor injuries and is being evaluated by medical personnel.”
The statement continues, “No guest injuries were reported. The plane has been taken out of service, and we are arranging for a different aircraft to return our guests and crew to FLL today. The safety of our guests and team members is our top priority, and we have suspended our service at Port-au-Prince (PAP) and Cap-Haitien (CAP) pending further evaluation.”
Officials believe the shooting was due to gang-related violence.