Incident Details
The incident took place on Wednesday, October 29, as Southwest Flight 1333, inbound from Baltimore, was on its final approach to CLE.
* Aircraft Involved: A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 and a Metro Aviation-operated Eurocopter helicopter, which was confirmed to be a medical transport aircraft for The MetroHealth System en route to St. John Medical Center.
* Near-Miss Proximity: Aviation tracking data from Flightradar24 suggests the two aircraft came within approximately 0.56 miles (0.9 km) of each other at an altitude of 2,075 feet.
* Pilot Action: The proximity forced the Southwest pilot to discontinue the initial approach and execute a go-around maneuver to avoid a potential collision. The jet later landed safely.
* Air Traffic Control (ATC) Dialogue: Reports indicate the helicopter pilot initially requested to pass above and in front of the incoming traffic, which was approved by the air traffic controller, an interaction the NTSB will closely examine.
Investigation Underway
The NTSB announced on Friday that it is sending a team to Ohio to lead the inquiry. The investigation will focus on analyzing air traffic control records, interviewing both flight crews, and reviewing flight data to determine the exact circumstances that led to the breach of safe distance and whether any standard safety protocols were violated.
The NTSB did not release details on how many passengers were aboard the Southwest flight, but no injuries or damage have been reported on either aircraft.
Southwest Airlines released a statement commending their crew’s “professionalism” in responding to the situation and confirmed its full cooperation with the federal investigation.