Southwest Jet, Helicopter Nearly Collide Over Cleveland
A Southwest Airlines jet narrowly avoided a collision with a medical helicopter while approaching Cleveland Hopkins International Airport on Wednesday, prompting an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
According to the agency, the two aircraft came dangerously close—violating the minimum required separation distance—forcing the pilot of Southwest Flight 1333 from Baltimore to abort the landing. The Boeing 737 landed safely soon afterward, Southwest Airlines confirmed.
While details about how many people were aboard either aircraft have not been released, officials said the helicopter was transporting a patient at the time.
Audio reviewed by Flightradar24 indicates that the Eurocopter (Airbus H145) helicopter requested clearance to pass above and in front of other traffic—a move approved by air traffic control. However, both aircraft ended up at the same altitude of 2,075 feet, with the helicopter passing roughly half a mile ahead of the airliner, according to Business Insider.
The Southwest captain described the encounter as “extremely close,” noting it required immediate evasive action, per USA Today. The airline praised its crew’s professionalism and said it is fully cooperating with investigators.
This incident follows a fatal collision in January between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., which killed 67 people and led to renewed scrutiny of airspace safety.
Since that crash, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has worked to revise helicopter flight routes and expand buffer zones around major airports. The agency has faced growing criticism for delays in responding to near-miss warnings.
Earlier this year, the NTSB revealed that over 15,000 loss-of-separation incidents have occurred near Reagan National Airport since 2021—including 85 classified as “close calls.”
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