Southwest flight nearly hits LaGuardia ATC tower. FAA is now investigating | NBC New York

Federal officials are investigating a Southwest Airlines flight that veered off course and flew close to the air traffic control tower at LaGuardia Airport last month. NBC New York's Andrew Siff reports.

[Swegen]

The news is killing it. That was a compelling interview. "I'm really glad nothing bad happened."

[CinemaDemocratica]

For more on this story, we go to a man who must know what he's talking about because he's standing inside the airport.

[stevencramsie]

Man, in the 80s and 90s planes were falling out of the sky and crashing all the time. There’s been some near misses of late, but things aren’t nearly as bad as they used to be.

[billthacet]

As I used to say before I retired as an ATC, when someone asked me if It scared me that something bad might happen, I would reply, "Nah, they hardly ever hit the tower."

[alexgraxe]

I'm just glad to hear those passengers being interviewed, not whining after the plane have to abort landing and go around a few times and just grateful that they landed safely.

[rescuegirl]

The pilot is no longer free to move about the country. 😂

[taxthechurches]

Male controller: Umm what was the reason for the turnaround?
Female controller: Look up.

[fortunatebum]

Ofc they interview passengers like they have any idea as to what the balls is going on or what happened. "im just happy that nothing happened" ok so is everyone else, tell me something new NEWS.

[torben]

What makes it worse is, that its the controller that calls for the goaround to save the situation.
It should have been very clear for the pilots way before .
They were not stabilised and the criteria for a continued approach was not present

[ALWH]

Watch Top Gun too many times, pilot: “tower, request fly by”.

[swschmidt]

I’m sure the passengers who watched the plane nearly land twice were pretty shocked to hear they were going to Baltimore

[BuIIet]

Imagine being so embarassed that you reroute to another airport 200 miles away

[Quagthistle]

This is why aircraft have visibility minimums for landing. That said, I wonder why they were so far off their alignment with the runway.

[craiglee]

No matter how many go-arounds, how many diverts, how hectic the process or bouncy the landing: Anytime you end up with a landing you can walk away from - it was a good landing. Even if it was at a different airport than originally planned.

[ij]

I do wonder how they got close to the tower because if they were doing an instrument approach, they should have been lined up on the runway.

[SDK-imsl]

There are many unique and challenging things about that particular approach to that particular runway. Obstacles, no autopilot allowed, wind effects, limited runway length, crossing traffic.

[bend]

Southwest has an option to pay an extra $10 and they pair you with a safer pilot. This flight must have had alot of budget flyers

[Aaron_R]

I don't understand how it happens with ILS and the navigation software.

[dwelvaart]

"they could see the bottom of the plane as it passed" Well duh, What would you be expecting the roof?? 😂

[mr.c]

Port Authority almost finished building the airport this pilot was about to make them rebuild it again 😮