Fatal Belly Landing: Southwest Airlines Flight Ends in Disaster

Fatal Belly Landing: Southwest Airlines Flight Ends in Disaster

By Jane Mitchell, May 12, 2025

A routine Southwest Airlines flight turned into a devastating tragedy on Monday, May 12, 2025, after a belly landing at Denver International Airport resulted in multiple fatalities and dozens of injuries. Authorities have confirmed that at least 7 people’s lost their lives, while 34 others were transported to local hospitals in critical or serious condition.

A Routine Flight Gone Wrong

The flight, identified as Southwest Airlines Flight 2675, departed from

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airportat 2:45 p.m. and was en route to Denver with 148 passengers and 6 crew members on board. According to preliminary reports, the aircraft encountered mechanical issues shortly before its scheduled landing, specifically a catastrophic failure in the main landing gear system.

Eyewitnesses report seeing the aircraft circling the airport multiple times before attempting to land without its landing gear fully deployed. The pilots declared an emergency at approximately **4:13 p.m.**, and followed all standard procedures to prepare the cabin and crew for a gear-up or “belly” landing.

The Belly Landing

The aircraft made contact with the runway at approximately 4:29 p.m.

skidding along its fuselage at high speed. Sparks and smoke erupted as the metal underside of the plane scraped against the tarmac, creating a fiery trail that was visible from surrounding airport terminals. The aircraft came to a stop after approximately **1,100 feet**, but not before significant damage occurred to the fuselage, engines, and part of the cabin interior.

Emergency crews were quick to respond, rushing to evacuate passengers and extinguish a small fire that broke out near the tail of the plane. Despite the rapid response, the incident resulted in the deaths of **5 passengers and 2 flight attendants**. Dozens of others sustained injuries ranging from minor cuts to severe fractures and internal trauma.

### Official Statements

In a press conference held at 7:00 p.m., Southwest Airlines CEO **Robert J. Hayes** expressed deep sorrow and extended condolences to the families of the deceased.

> “We are heartbroken by this tragic event. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected. We are fully cooperating with investigators and will do everything we can to support our passengers, crew, and their families,” Hayes stated.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched a full investigation into the cause of the mechanical failure. The aircraft’s black boxes — the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder — have already been recovered and transported to Washington, D.C., for analysis.

Passenger Accounts

Several passengers who survived the crash have spoken out, describing the terrifying moments leading up to the landing.

> “The pilot told us to brace for impact,” said **Emily Ross**, a 38-year-old passenger who suffered a broken arm. “You could feel the plane shaking. Then there was this loud screech, and the whole cabin filled with smoke. It was chaos.”

Another passenger, **Carlos Mendoza**, 52, credited the crew with saving lives:

> “The flight attendants were incredible. They kept us calm and got people off the plane fast. I don’t think I’d be here if it weren’t for them.”

Background on the Aircraft

The aircraft involved was a **Boeing 737-800**, a model widely used by Southwest Airlines. This particular aircraft, registered as **N879WN**, had been in service for **12 years** and had reportedly passed its most recent safety inspection on **April 17, 2025**.

While the Boeing 737 family has a generally strong safety record, certain models — particularly the 737 MAX series — have faced intense scrutiny in recent years. However, experts caution that it’s too early to draw connections between this incident and previous manufacturing issues.

Airline Response

Southwest Airlines has set up an emergency response center at **Denver International Airport’s Terminal C** to support affected families. The airline has also offered full compensation to passengers and will cover all medical and logistical expenses incurred as a result of the incident.

Flights into and out of Denver were temporarily suspended for approximately **three hours** before resuming under increased safety oversight.

### What Happens Next

Investigators will now focus on analyzing the maintenance history of the aircraft, recent repairs to the landing gear system, and the final communications between pilots and air traffic control. Early reports suggest a possible hydraulic system failure, but this has not been confirmed.

Aviation expert **Dr. Linda Alvarez**, a former NTSB investigator, commented:

> “This should have been a survivable incident under normal conditions, and yet we’re seeing multiple fatalities. The investigation will focus heavily on the condition of the aircraft and the effectiveness of the emergency response.”

In the meantime, safety officials from the FAA have issued a temporary directive for all U.S.-based airlines operating Boeing 737-800 aircraft to conduct rapid landing gear system checks within the next 48 hours.

### Conclusion

This devastating event marks one of the darkest days in recent Southwest Airlines history. With **seven lives lost** and many others critically injured, both the airline and federal authorities face mounting pressure to uncover the exact cause and prevent future tragedies.

As the nation mourns and families begin to grieve, all eyes will be on the ongoing investigation. For those affected, the road to recovery — physically, emotionally, and legally — is only beginning.