Austin–Bergstrom International Airport runway incident

The Austin–Bergstrom International Airport runway incident on May 7, 2020, involved an adult male pedestrian who breached the airport's security and was fatally struck by a Boeing 737-700 operated on Southwest Airlines Flight 1392 (between Dallas Love Field and Austin–Bergstrom International Airport) as it landed on runway 17R. No injuries to passengers or crew in the aircraft were reported, however the plane sustained damage to its left engine nacelle.[3][4][5][6]

Southwest Airlines Flight 1392
The aircraft involved in the incident, N401WN, at Los Angeles International Airport in 2015
Accident
DateMay 7, 2020 (2020-05-07)
SummaryRunway incursion, individual struck by landing aircraft, under investigation
SiteAustin–Bergstrom International Airport, Austin, Texas
Total fatalities1
Aircraft
Aircraft typeBoeing 737-7H4[1]
OperatorSouthwest Airlines
IATA flight No.WN1392
ICAO flight No.SWA1392
RegistrationN401WN[2]
Flight originDallas Love Field
DestinationAustin–Bergstrom International Airport
Occupants58
Passengers53
Crew5
Fatalities0
Survivors58
Ground casualties
Ground fatalities1

The accident and security breach are currently undergoing investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration, local law enforcement, and the Transportation Security Administration.[4][6][7][8]

Accident

At approximately 8:12 PM CDT,[9] Flight 1392 reported that they "saw an unauthorized individual" on the runway before the plane landed.[10] A short time later, a pilot on Flight 1392 reported seeing a person on the runway shortly after the plane touched down. A subsequent search with an airport operation vehicle found a body on the runway and the adult victim was declared dead at the scene.[7] A spokesman with Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services said that "no lifesaving measures" were performed because "the person was obviously deceased."[6]

The victim was not authorized to be on the runway at the time.[9] Shortly after the incident, the runway was closed for investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration.[4][7] CBS News revealed that the left engine nacelle of the aircraft had been damaged, but authorities did not confirm that the damage was directly related to impact with the pedestrian.[6]

Aircraft

The accident aircraft was a Boeing 737-7H4, registered in the United States as N401WN,[1] msn 29813. It was built in 2001 for Southwest Airlines.[11][12]

On May 10, the aircraft was placed back in service.[1]

Investigation

In a statement on May 8, the city of Austin website reported that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) "has delegated [its] authority to the Austin Police Department to lead the investigation".[13] That same day, a communications manager for the airport confirmed that the victim was not a badged airport employee.[14] On May 11, the Austin Police Department identified the victim as 22-year-old Junin Ko, and an airport spokesperson characterized the occurrence as a "security breach" and a "runway incursion" but refused to comment on how Ko gained access to the runway.[8]

References
  1. "Flight history for aircraft - N401WN". Flightradar24. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  2. "Flight history for Southwest Airlines flight WN1392". Flightradar24. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  3. "Jetliner Hits, Kills Man on Austin Airport Runway". NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  4. "Man struck, killed by Southwest flight as it landed at Austin airport". KVIA.com. Austin, Texas: KVIA. Associated Press. May 8, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  5. "Southwest Airlines Flight Hits, Kills Man on Austin, Texas Airport Runway". Time. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  6. Hauser, Christine (May 8, 2020). "Southwest Flight Hits and Kills Person on Austin Airport Runway". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  7. Perper, Rosie. "FAA says it is investigating reports that a person was struck and killed by a plane at Austin international airport". Business Insider. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  8. Bradshaw, Kelsey (May 11, 2020). "Police ID man killed on runway; how he got there remains mystery". Austin American-Statesman. Austin, Texas. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  9. Smith, Tierra (May 8, 2020). "Person hit and killed by Southwest airplane on runway in Austin, airport says". KPRC. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  10. Reuters (May 8, 2020). "One Person Dead After Being Struck by Plane Landing at Airport in Austin, Texas". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  11. "Boeing 737 NG / Max - MSN 29813 - N401WN | Airfleets aviation". www.airfleets.net. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  12. "N401WN Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4(WL)". www.planespotters.net. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  13. "AUS Statement on Pedestrian Fatality | AustinTexas.gov". www.austintexas.gov. May 8, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  14. Holcombe, Madeline; Silverman, Hollie (May 8, 2020). "A man found dead on an airport runway in Austin was not a badged airport employee". CNN. Retrieved May 9, 2020.

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