Southwest system outage causes 1,700 flight delays, leaving some passengers stranded on runways — latest meltdown has travelers vowing to ditch airline



Southwest Airlines experienced a nationwide system outage on Tuesday morning that caused some cancelations and roughly 1,700 flight delays.

The technical disruption, which lasted approximately an hour and a half, left some passengers stranded on runways.

Disgruntled customers took to Twitter to vent their frustrations with Southwest's performance and potential pattern of unreliability after the airline's earlier meltdown in December that resulted in roughly 16,700 canceled flights.

One Twitter user wrote, "I've had 3 of my last flights delayed by 4 or more hours in the last 3 months. One of them rescheduled and it positively couldn't work for me and I had to pay $140 to make it work. I'm done with SW."

Another user tweeted, "You are no longer my go to - that is for certain. In the past 10 days, I'm 3 for 3 with ridiculous, non weather delays with my flights. I will be canceling my return today and pivoting to United."

According to Southwest, the nationwide outage resulted from a firewall system failure that occurred around 9:45 a.m. and continued for over an hour.

A representative attempting to address the flood of passenger complaints stated that the airline was experiencing "intermittent technology issues."

At 11:10 a.m., the Federal Aviation Administration announced that the halt on Southwest flights had been lifted and service would continue immediately.

The FAA posted on Twitter, "This morning @SouthwestAir experienced a technical issue with one of their internal systems. At the airline's request, the FAA paused Southwest's departures as they resolved the issue. The pause has been lifted and their service has resumed."

Southwest Airlines posted an update on social media announcing that services would resume; however, it did not announce the initial outage. The update provided few details on the cause of the disruption but encouraged passengers to check their flight status.

A 10 a.m. media release from the airline revealed that the outrage resulted from a firewall failure.

"Southwest has resumed operations after temporarily pausing flight activity this morning to work through data connection issues resulting from a firewall failure," the statement read. "Early this morning, a vendor-supplied firewall went down and connection to some operational data was unexpectedly lost. Southwest Teams worked quickly to minimize flight disruptions."

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A woman fired a gun at Dallas Love Field airport. A police officer with a gun stopped her



A police officer shot and wounded an armed woman who fired a handgun inside Dallas Love Field airport on Monday morning.

Flights in Dallas, Texas, were put on hold after a woman identified as 37-year-old Portia Odufuwa opened fire at the ceiling, according to the Dallas Morning News.

The suspected shooter was dropped off at the airport at about 11 a.m., proceeded inside near the ticketing counters and went into a bathroom, Dallas police Chief Eddie Garcia said at a news conference. The woman then emerged wearing a hooded sweatshirt, pulled out a handgun, aimed the weapon at the ceiling, and fired several times, Garcia told reporters.

An officer at the scene responded quickly, shooting at the armed woman and hitting her "lower extremities," police said. The suspect was taken into custody and transported to a nearby hospital.

“No other individuals were injured in this event other than the suspect,” Garcia said.

Travelers at the airport reportedly scattered and took cover when the shooting began, according to video posted to social media.

\u201c@DallasLoveField what just happened? A group of people were running and yelling \u201crun\u201d and we all immediately took cover. Nothing has been communicated to us. Everything seems to be calm now. It was most certainly a scary experience for all. @SouthwestAir\u201d
— Johnny Mojica (@Johnny Mojica) 1658766461


Police have not yet determined the shooter's motive.

“We wanted to ensure that our community knows that this is not an active situation,” the police chief said.

Dallas City Council member Jesse Moreno said the suspect was in stable condition in a statement released shortly before 2 p.m., the Dallas Morning News reported.

“I’m thankful to the Dallas police department, (the Transportation Security Administration) and the dedicated Love Field staff for their swift response in keeping people safe,” Moreno said. “This is something they do every day for people who travel to and from Dallas.”

A spokeswoman for Love Field told the Associated Press that airport operations were suspended Monday afternoon and would resume when authorities had completed their investigation.

"At approximately 11:23 am. Monday, July 25, the Dallas Police Department reported and immediately responded to shots fired in the Dallas Love Field terminal. An evacuation and shelter-in-place commenced as DPD investigated, confirmed, and neutralized the single, shooter threat," the airport tweeted at 3:03 p.m. ET.

At 4:43 p.m. ET, the airport announced that operations had resumed.

A spokesman for Southwest Airlines, which uses Love Field as a hub, told the AP the airline canceled most of its flights that were scheduled to depart or arrive at Love Filed before 6 p.m. CDT. Southwest reportedly canceled 85 flights at Love Field on Monday, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware.

(h/t: The Police Tribune)

Southwest pilot sends reporter, CNN analyst into frenzy after saying 'Let's go, Brandon' over plane intercom



A pilot for Southwest Airlines triggered one customer — who happened to be an Associated Press reporter — on Friday after saying "Let's go, Brandon" over the plane's intercom system.

Over the last month, "Let's go, Brandon" has become a national chant to express opposition to President Joe Biden.

What happened?

The incident on the Southwest Airlines flight took place Friday morning.

"On Friday morning on a Southwest flight from Houston to Albuquerque, the pilot signed off his greeting over the public address system with the phrase, to audible gasps from some passengers," the AP reported.

A TikTok video showed exactly what the pilot said.

"We're heading east at about seven or eight miles per hour. Clear visibility, mostly clear skies, about 77 degrees," the pilot said. "Thanks for coming out and flying Southwest Airlines, welcome aboard, and remember, 'Let's go, Brandon.'"

What was the reaction?

The AP reporter who heard the anti-Biden remark admitted she was almost removed from the plane when she tried to gain access the flight deck to ask the pilot about his remark.

"[That feeling when] you're trying to go on vacation and then the pilot says the very thing you're working on over the loud speaker and you have to try to get him comment but then almost get removed from plane," reporter Colleen Long said. "Also in defense of airline I was asking them to open locked cock pit and probably sounded insane!"

Also in defense of airline I was asking them to open locked cock pit and probably sounded insane!

— Colleen Long (@ctlong1) 1635608205.0

Meanwhile, Juliette Kayyem, a Harvard professor and CNN analyst, demanded that every passenger on the plane file a complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration.

'If @SouthwestAir doesn't do anything, every passenger on that flight has standing to file a complaint with the @FAANews and they should do so. Southwest will then be compelled to investigate or defend him. Have fun with that," Kayyem reacted. "No messing around in the air. Bright line rule."

"Unlike some of you, I'm not saying he should fired. Only that there should be investigation. For all we know he was making fun of it," she added. "Either way — bad joke or asshole — it cannot go unaddressed lest it opens up other pilots to harangue passengers."

Unlike some of you, I’m not saying he should fired. Only that there should be investigation. For all we know he was… https://t.co/jkI4yQr242

— Juliette Kayyem (@juliettekayyem) 1635623750.0

Kayyem even suggested the pilot's remark "reflect[s] possibility of anger management or substance abuse." She did not provide evidence to back her claim.

What did Southwest say?

Southwest Airlines released a general statement saying the airline does not condone "divisive or offensive" behavior, but did not say anything specific about the incident.

"Southwest Team takes pride in providing a welcoming, comfortable, and respectful environment for the millions of Customers who fly with the airline each year and behavior from any individual that is divisive or offensive is not condoned," the statement said.

Speculation swirls over possible 'sickout' as Southwest Airlines abruptly cancels more than 1,800 flights



Thousands of Americans were left stranded at airports nationwide over the weekend after Southwest Airlines abruptly canceled nearly 2,000 flights.

What happened?

Southwest Airlines, one of America's most popular airlines, canceled more than 1,000 flights on Sunday after canceling more than 800 flights on Saturday, the Washington Post reported. Another 1,500 flights had been delayed.

The airline claimed the unusual delays caused by air traffic control and weather issues.

"[Air Traffic Control] issues and disruptive weather have resulted in a high volume of cancellations throughout the weekend while we work to recover our operation. We appreciate your patience as we accommodate affected Customers, and Customer Service wait times are longer than usual," Southwest Airlines tweeted on Saturday.

ATC issues and disruptive weather have resulted in a high volume of cancellations throughout the weekend while we w… https://t.co/pb9RHXrMAZ

— Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) 1633806439.0

What did the FAA say?

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed there were some ATC staffing and weather issues — on Friday, not Saturday. Otherwise, the agency blamed airline logistical issues for the canceled flights.

CNBC reported:

The Federal Aviation Administration said there were a "few hours" of flight delays on Friday afternoon because of severe weather and staffing issues at Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center, which controls airspace in five parts of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina.

"No FAA air traffic staffing shortages have been reported since Friday," the FAA said. "Some airlines continue to experience scheduling challenges due to aircraft and crews being out of place. Please contact the airlines for details about current flight schedules."

Is it something more?

As tens of thousands of Americans were left stranded at airports over the abrupt flight cancelations, the mass flight cancelation — which did not impact other air carriers — was speculated to be related to a "sickout," or protest over COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

Reporter Leland Vittert said federal employees were protesting a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Airline sources: mass “sickout” @FAANews center in Jacksonville - caused ripple effect and 1000+ flight cancellatio… https://t.co/e3PwswUmC9

— Leland Vittert (@LelandVittert) 1633830017.0

Interestingly, the mass flight cancelations began one day after the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association filed a request in federal court to temporarily block a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, however, denied the flight cancelations were related to action taken by Southwest pilots.

The SWPA said that while it was aware "operational difficulties affecting Southwest Airlines ... we can say with confidence that our Pilots are not participating in any official or unofficial job actions."

"Our Pilots will continue to overcome [Southwest] management's poor planning, as well as any external operational challenges, and remain the most productive Pilots in the world," the union added, the Post reported.

Woman says Southwest Airlines staff refused to board her over 'lewd, obscene, and offensive' shirt that exposed much of her chest



Chicago resident Kayla Eubanks said Southwest Airlines staff recently refused to allow her to board one of their crafts, saying her low-cut top was "lewd, obscene, and offensive."

She added that a pilot gave up his T-shirt so she could fly.

What are the details?

Eubanks documented her experience Tuesday via Twitter, writing, "Y'all I was KICKED OFF my @SouthwestAir flight because my boobs are 'lewd, obscene, and offensive.' I was told that passengers may look at me in my attire and be offended."

Eubanks also shared a photo of her outfit: a long, red skirt paired with a very low-cut, black halter-style top.

Y’all I was KICKED OFF my @SouthwestAir flight because my boobs are “lewd, obscene and offensive.” I was told that… https://t.co/S6BigdS5zB
— Kayla Eubanks (@Kayla Eubanks)1602014759.0

In a later tweet, she added, "I really wanna know why @SouthwestAir is policing my clothes like this. How will my shirt impact my flight, for myself, the other passengers, or even the pilot?"

"Y'all have a dress code for CUSTOMERS who pay to get on a plane?" she wrote. "It's the constant policing of women's bodies for me."

She also shared video of one of Southwest's female gate employees fumbling to answer Eubanks' questions about a dress code, captioning it "[she] practically did cartwheels to ensure that I wouldn't get on this plane y'all. I was held at the gate for 30 minutes because of my shirt."

This @SouthwestAir employee practically did cartwheels to ensure that I wouldn’t get on this plane y’all. I was hel… https://t.co/KRql7c04dJ
— Kayla Eubanks (@Kayla Eubanks)1602024603.0

In another video, Eubanks can be seen speaking with a the flight's captain.

"They're hating on you because you're looking good, is that right?" the unidentified captain can be heard joking with Eubanks.

"I don't take this lightly at all," she responds. "I would like to get on my flight."

The captain then tells Eubanks that the staffers are looking into the policy, and offers a shirt of his own.

"If they're, like, 'Hey, the rule says you have to cover up,' do you have something?" he asks her. "Do you have a shirt, or do you want me to give you one of mine?'"

Eubanks insists that she wants to see the policy before she makes any decisions, and she can be heard telling the pilot, "I have to leave my t**s at home? Obviously not."

As it turned out, according to Eubanks, she did have to cover up, and pointed out that the pilot lent her his T-shirt.

She wrote, "The CAPTAIN of the flight loaned me his shirt so that I could board (having been removed from the flight and the flight being delayed). I eventually took it off. Only to be told that I would have to speak with a supervisor upon landing."

A spokesperson for Southwest Airlines told the New York Post that the company reached out to Eubanks directly to issue an apology. The spokesperson said that the company also refunded Eubanks' fare in compensation.

“Regarding our policies, each situation is very different, and our employees are responsible for following our Contract of Carriage, available on our website," the spokesperson told the outlet.

The outlet adds, "According to the material posted online, the company 'may, in its sole discretion, refuse to transport, or may remove from an aircraft at any point,' a passenger who engages 'in lewd, obscene, or patently offensive behavior, including wearing clothes that are lewd, obscene, or patently offensive."