FAA investigates Southwest flight for nearly crashing into ocean

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a recent Southwest Airlines incident where a Boeing 737 Max 8 jet came too close to the ocean.

Bloomberg reported a memo that was sent to pilots regarding the April 11 incident with a “newer” first officer flying the plane off the coast of Hawaii. 

Driving the news: The first officer accidentally caused the plane to drop at a rate of more than 4,000 feet per minute by pushing the control column forward. 

• The plane came within 400 feet of falling into the ocean but there were no reported injuries to passengers or crew.

What they’re saying: “Nothing is more important to Southwest than Safety,” Southwest told CNN. “Through our robust Safety Management System, the event was addressed appropriately as we always strive for continuous improvement.”