Last Updated on July 22, 2026 by Daniel Globe
Southwest Airlines has had a number of serious accidents over its history, including two fatal events, but it has never suffered a catastrophic, mass-casualty crash of the kind associated with major airline disasters. Its overall safety record remains strong by industry standards, and the details below show why.
Quick Answer
Southwest Airlines has had two fatal accidents since it began flying in 1971: a 2005 runway overrun at Chicago Midway that killed a child on the ground, and a 2018 uncontained engine failure that killed one passenger. Despite these events, Southwest has never had a crash that killed a cabin full of passengers, and its overall safety record is considered strong.
Key Takeaways
- Southwest has had two fatal accidents in over 50 years of operation: 2005 (Flight 1248) and 2018 (Flight 1380).
- No Southwest flight has ever resulted in a mass-casualty loss of passengers.
- Regulators tightened engine inspection and runway safety rules after its most serious accidents.
- Southwest’s other notable incidents — a 2000 runway overrun and two cabin pressure events — caused injuries but no deaths.
Has Southwest Airlines Ever Crashed?
Yes. Southwest has had serious accidents, including a small number of hull losses, and two of those accidents were fatal. It has never had a single event that killed a large number of passengers on board. Flight 1248 overran a Chicago runway in 2005 and caused one ground fatality when the aircraft skidded into traffic. Flight 1380 suffered an uncontained engine failure in 2018 that killed one passenger. Beyond these two events, Southwest’s record consists mainly of runway excursions and cabin pressure incidents that caused injuries but no fatalities. Regulators tightened inspections and procedures after both fatal accidents, and the airline’s broader safety culture, pilot training, and operational oversight have kept the large majority of incidents from turning serious.
Southwest’s Fatal Incidents Since 1971
Since Southwest began flying in 1971, it has recorded two fatal accidents. The first came in 2005, when Flight 1248 overran a snow-covered runway in Chicago, crashed through airport fencing onto a public road, and struck a car, killing six-year-old Joshua Woods. The second came in 2018, when Flight 1380’s uncontained engine failure led to a cabin depressurization that killed passenger Jennifer Riordan.
| Year | Event | Fatalities |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Flight 1248 runway overrun (Chicago Midway) | 1 (on the ground) |
| 2018 | Flight 1380 uncontained engine failure | 1 (passenger) |
| 2000 | Flight 1455 runway overrun (Burbank) | 0 |
| 2009/2011 | Cabin pressure loss events | 0 |
Southwest’s overall record still ranks among the industry’s better ones, but every fatal accident matters. The NTSB pushed reviews and safety enhancements after both of these events, because safer operations directly reduce risk for future passengers.
What Happened on Flight 1380?
On April 17, 2018, Southwest Flight 1380 suffered an uncontained engine failure shortly after takeoff, and debris struck the fuselage. The impact broke a cabin window, caused explosive depressurization, and led to one passenger’s death and minor injuries to eight others. Captain Tammie Jo Shults and First Officer Darren Ellisor performed an emergency descent and landed in Philadelphia about 17 minutes later.
Engine Failure Midair
The event quickly became one of the airline’s most serious in-flight emergencies. According to the NTSB’s final report, a fan blade broke away due to a latent fatigue crack, and the crew had to act fast. The Boeing 737-700, N772SW, was later written off. The aircraft needed an immediate descent to Philadelphia International Airport, where it landed safely. One passenger, Jennifer Riordan, died after a partial ejection through the damaged window, and eight others had minor injuries. The FAA subsequently ordered stricter fan-blade inspections across similar CFM56 engines and urged a redesign of the fan cowl structure.
Debris Breach Impact
The engine failure didn’t stop at the engine itself; it triggered a cabin breach that changed the emergency immediately. A broken fan blade, a detached cowling, and window damage caused explosive depressurization at roughly 32,000 feet, and the aircraft briefly rolled sharply to the left.
- One passenger, Jennifer Riordan, was partially ejected and died.
- Eight other passengers reported minor injuries.
- The NTSB later linked the event to a missed engine inspection directive and recommended cabin and cowl design changes.
The broader lesson: cabin safety depends on maintenance discipline, fast engineering review, and systems built to contain debris before it can breach the cabin.
Note: A “hull loss” means the aircraft itself was damaged beyond economical repair and taken out of service — it does not necessarily mean the accident was fatal.
Emergency Landing Response
After the uncontained engine failure, the crew began a rapid emergency descent over Pennsylvania. About 20 minutes after departing LaGuardia, the aircraft was at cruising altitude when the cabin depressurization occurred. Captain Shults and First Officer Ellisor followed emergency protocols, kept control of the aircraft, and diverted to Philadelphia. The descent and landing took roughly 17 minutes — a narrow window in which crew training mattered greatly. The FAA ordered inspections of similar engines industry-wide afterward, reinforcing maintenance discipline across airlines that operate the same engine type.
How Flight 1455 and 1248 Unfolded
On March 5, 2000, Southwest Flight 1455 overran the runway in Burbank, California, in wet conditions, injuring 44 of the 142 people on board (two seriously, the rest with minor injuries) and damaging the aircraft beyond repair. According to the NTSB investigation, the jet touched down too fast for the available stopping distance, and air traffic control instructions had put the crew in a position where a go-around was their only safe option.
- The jet touched down at roughly 182 knots, well above target approach speed.
- Wet pavement and excessive speed left inadequate stopping distance.
- Investigators cited both crew decision-making and air traffic control instructions.
Then, on December 8, 2005, Flight 1248 slid off a snow-covered runway at Chicago Midway, crashed through perimeter fencing onto a public road, struck a car, and killed six-year-old Joshua Woods. The NTSB found the probable cause was the pilots’ delayed use of reverse thrust, compounded by unfamiliarity with the aircraft’s newer autobrake system. That accident pushed regulators to examine landing procedures, runway safety margins, and led to the installation of engineered materials arrestor systems (EMAS) at both Midway and Burbank.
Southwest’s Nonfatal Safety Incidents
Southwest’s nonfatal safety record includes runway excursions, cabin pressure events, and close calls that did not lead to serious injury or death. The 2000 Burbank overrun injured 44 people but caused no deaths. The airline also handled cabin pressure losses in 2009 and 2011 without serious injuries, showing these events were rare but operationally significant enough to prompt regulatory review.
Runway Excursions
Southwest’s record includes a small number of runway excursions, most without fatalities. Flight 1455 overran Burbank’s runway in 2000, injuring 44 people but causing no deaths. Flight 1248 overran Chicago Midway in 2005 and struck a vehicle, killing a six-year-old boy. In 2015, Flight 31 slid off a Nashville taxiway; passengers reported only minor injuries.
- Burbank (2000): 44 injuries, no fatalities
- Chicago Midway (2005): one child killed on the ground
- Nashville (2015): minor injuries, no fatalities
These events show that safe air travel still relies on disciplined crew training, maintenance, and conservative operating procedures. Southwest’s response after each event has aimed to reduce recurring risk.
Cabin Pressure Events
Southwest has had a few notable cabin pressure events, but the outcomes were nonfatal in each case most often cited. On July 13, 2009, a cabin pressure loss followed a fuselage rupture, and all 124 passengers and crew avoided serious injury. On April 1, 2011, a similar fuselage rupture occurred during climb; the crew diverted and landed safely, again with no fatalities or serious injuries. NTSB reviews linked both events to preexisting structural fatigue rather than crew error. Regulators pushed for stronger fuselage inspection requirements afterward.
Near-Miss Incidents
Near-miss incidents add another layer to Southwest’s safety record, showing how close calls can end without injury or damage. In one case, a Southwest flight had a near-collision with a smaller aircraft in shared airspace, with no injuries or damage reported, largely due to crew and controller situational awareness. Combined with the runway excursion and cabin pressure cases above, these incidents illustrate a pattern: disciplined crew response, NTSB review, and stronger safety controls have generally kept close calls from becoming worse outcomes.
Southwest’s Overall Safety Record
Across more than five decades of operation, Southwest Airlines has recorded a relatively small number of serious accidents, and only two of them were fatal. That is a strong record for a carrier operating at Southwest’s scale and flight volume. The only ground fatality in Southwest’s history came in 2005, when Flight 1248 overran a runway at Chicago Midway. In 2018, Flight 1380’s uncontained engine failure caused the only in-flight passenger fatality in the airline’s history and led to renewed scrutiny of engine maintenance and inspection practices. Southwest maintains a solid safety reputation because it invests in pilot training and emergency protocols and follows FAA and NTSB guidance. These systems don’t eliminate risk, but they reflect disciplined management and steady improvement over time.
Southwest’s Response After Major Incidents
Southwest’s safety record is strong overall, but its response after major incidents shows how it tries to limit repeat risk. After Flight 1380 in 2018, the airline voluntarily inspected CFM56 engines across its fleet and tightened crew training around emergency readiness. After Flight 1248 in 2005, it committed to improving operational procedures and passenger communication.
- Fleet-wide inspections after major events
- Added crew training for emergency readiness
- Financial compensation for affected passengers
Pro Tip: If you want to check an airline’s current safety record before booking, the NTSB’s public accident database and the FAA’s safety data pages are the most authoritative sources — more reliable than aggregator ranking sites.
These actions show a consistent pattern: inspect, retrain, and communicate. Regulators later required enhanced fan blade inspections for high-cycle engines industry-wide, underscoring the importance of follow-through after an accident.
What the NTSB Found
The NTSB determined that the Flight 1380 accident began when a fan blade fractured from a latent fatigue crack, causing an uncontained engine failure and cabin depressurization. The blade-out event led to control challenges, an emergency descent about 20 minutes after departure, and a safe landing roughly 17 minutes later. The board found that Southwest had not completed a service directive for engine inspection that might have caught the fatigue crack earlier. The NTSB’s recommendations called for a redesigned fan cowl structure to better contain debris after a blade-out event. The final report also noted the flight crew was qualified and the airplane’s maintenance was otherwise satisfactory, so neither factor contributed to the accident. The overall finding is straightforward: safety depends on disciplined inspection follow-through and resilient design, even when a single component fails catastrophically.
Southwest’s Safety Improvements Today
After Flight 1380, Southwest tightened its safety program with mandatory fan blade inspections, emergency airworthiness directives, and broader maintenance reviews. The airline’s all-Boeing 737 fleet gives it uniform parts, standardized checks, and clearer maintenance oversight.
- Crew training now stresses emergency response and faster decision-making.
- NTSB recommendations have been adopted through continuous regulatory review.
- Ongoing inspections target structural integrity and cabin safety.
Southwest’s record of only two fatal accidents in more than 50 years of operation suggests risk is actively managed, not eliminated. Travelers should still expect airlines and regulators to keep verifying safety continuously, since aviation safety is never a finished project — but Southwest’s current inspection and training framework reflects real, sustained investment following its most serious incidents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have There Been Any Southwest Airlines Crashes?
Yes. Southwest has had a small number of serious accidents since 1971, including two fatal events (2005 and 2018) and several nonfatal runway overruns and cabin pressure incidents. These events prompted stronger safety protocols, and the airline’s overall record is still considered strong by industry standards.
What Airline Has 0 Fatal Crashes?
Airlines commonly cited for having no fatal jet-era crashes include Qantas and Air New Zealand. These claims typically refer to the modern jet era rather than an airline’s entire operating history, so it’s worth checking an airline’s current safety data before relying on this kind of ranking.
Which Airline Has the Worst Accident Record?
Carriers with weaker regulatory oversight and older fleets, such as some regional airlines in parts of Asia and Africa, tend to rank among the airlines with the worst accident records. It’s worth comparing fleet age, regulatory oversight, and fatality data before judging any specific carrier, since rankings can shift as fleets and safety programs change.
Is Southwest a Safe Airline to Fly?
Yes, Southwest is considered a safe airline to fly. It has had a small number of serious accidents since its founding, including two fatal events, but its overall safety ratings and flight statistics remain strong. It’s still worth checking current safety advisories, but the airline’s maintenance, training, and inspection record show consistent investment in safety.
Conclusion
So, has Southwest ever crashed? Yes — but not in the way many people fear. Since 1971, Southwest has had two fatal accidents: the 2005 Chicago Midway overrun and the 2018 Flight 1380 engine failure, along with several serious but nonfatal incidents like the 2000 Burbank overrun. Today, Southwest operates under improved inspection and training protocols shaped directly by those events — but as with any airline, ongoing vigilance and fact-checking matter more than any single safety claim.
Sources
- NTSB — Southwest Airlines Flight 1248 investigation — official cause findings for the 2005 Chicago Midway accident
- FAA Lessons Learned — N471WN (Flight 1248) — accident summary and ground casualty details
- NTSB — Final Report, Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 — official findings on the 2018 engine failure
- NTSB — Aircraft Accident Brief, Southwest Airlines Flight 1455 — official findings on the 2000 Burbank overrun