Southwest Airlines is a low-cost carrier headquartered in Dallas, Texas. It is the largest low-cost carrier in the United States and the world’s largest airline by number of passengers carried. Southwest Airlines operates a fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft and flies to 121 destinations in the United States and 10 additional countries. The airline is known for its customer-friendly policies, such as free checked bags and no change fees. Southwest Airlines is also known for its fun and colorful branding, which includes its signature yellow and blue color scheme. 

Is Southwest Airlines safe? is a question that many passengers ask before booking a flight. Yes, it is understandable that passengers would want to know if Southwest Airlines is safe before booking a ticket. After all, flying is a relatively dangerous activity, and people want to feel confident that they are in good hands.

The good news is that Southwest Airlines has a good safety record. According to AirlineRatings.com, Southwest has a 7/7 safety rating, which is the highest possible rating. This means that Southwest has a very low risk of accidents.

In its 52-year history, Southwest Airlines has experienced 8 accidents, but fortunately, none of these incidents resulted in any fatalities. Notably, the most recent accident occurred in 2018 when a Southwest Airlines plane made an emergency landing due to an engine failure, with no injuries reported.

Despite this generally positive safety track record, the airline faced criticism in 2021 when the FAA issued a warning due to several incidents, including engine failures and landing gear malfunctions. The FAA found that Southwest Airlines had not adequately addressed these safety concerns.

While Southwest Airlines remains a safe airline overall, potential passengers should take into account these recent safety concerns and consider additional factors when evaluating the airline’s safety, such as its age and fleet size, safety culture, compliance with safety regulations, and accident history.

Ultimately, the decision to fly with Southwest Airlines should be made after careful consideration of these factors to ensure an informed choice regarding personal safety.