A Southwest Airlines flight attendant suffered a serious spinal injury after a hard landing last month in California, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced Monday. 

The NTSB has released its final report regarding Southwest Flight 2029, a Boeing 737-700 (registration N480WN), which operated from Oakland (OAK) to Santa Ana (SNA) on 1 July 2022.

Up until touchdown at 1721 local time, the flight had been uneventful. According to the NTSB report, the flight crew performed a standard visual approach to runway 20R at SNA. As is usually the case at SNA, the crew aimed to land the aircraft as close to the touchdown zone – with minimal float – as possible. 

Hard Landings are Common at SNA Due to its Short Runway 

Runway 2L/20R at SNA is a relatively short 5,700 feet in length. It is SNA’s only usable option for landing and departing commercial aircraft. 

The NTSB report states that the flight attendant conducted normal pre-landing activities such as securing the cabin and galley. Once in her jumpseat, she secured her harness and got into the brace position. When the plane touched down, it “hit the ground with such force that she thought the plane had crashed,” according to the NTSB report. She also reported immediate, severe back and neck pain and was unable to move. 

The Injury To The Flight Attendant Was Serious

As the aircraft exited the runway and began the taxi to the terminal, the NTSB report indicates the pilots were notified that “the ‘B’ position flight attendant seated in the aft jumpseat had injured her back on landing and required medical assistance.” 

Once parked, paramedics boarded the flight to evaluate the injured crew member. She was taken to a nearby hospital and was diagnosed with a compression fracture to her T3 vertebra. 

None of the other four crewmembers, nor any of the 137 passengers on board, were injured. The aircraft involved in the incident was not damaged, and the NTSB did not assign fault for the incident.