Southwest Airlines Flight WN203 Diverts to Nashville Following Mid-Flight Engine Shutdown

On November 5, 2024, on Southwest Airlines flight WN203 an engine issue occurred that required an immediate shutdown. The flight was operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8, tail number N8727M, flying at 34,000 feet from Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) to Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). During the flight, the crew identified an issue with one of the aircraft’s LEAP engines, which required an immediate shutdown. Acting swiftly, they diverted to Nashville International Airport (BNA), landing on runway 20L about 35 minutes after the engine shutdown decision.

Southwest Airlines Flight WN203 Diversion to Nashville

Nashville was a logical choice for the diversion of Southwest Airlines Flight WN203, given Southwest Airlines’ strong operational presence there. The airline maintains a substantial infrastructure at Nashville, including support staff, maintenance facilities, and, importantly, a spare aircraft to resume disrupted routes. This infrastructure allowed Southwest to quickly bring in a replacement Boeing 737 MAX 8, registered as N8322X, to continue the flight to Chicago. Although this caused a delay, the substitute aircraft reached Chicago Midway only two hours behind the original schedule, minimizing disruption for passengers.

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Timeline of Aircraft Activity

Data from Flightradar24 provided insights into the aircraft’s journey post-diversion. After landing in Nashville, the diverted Boeing 737 MAX 8 remained grounded for approximately 20 hours to undergo inspections and maintenance. It was subsequently cleared for operations, resuming service the following day as Flight WN2496 from Nashville to Milwaukee (MKE) on November 6, 2024.

Southwest Airlines’ Boeing 737 MAX 8 Fleet

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The Boeing 737 MAX 8 involved in this incident, N8727M, was delivered to Southwest Airlines in September 2018 and features an all-economy 175-seat layout, consistent with Southwest’s standard cabin configuration. As the largest operator of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 globally, Southwest’s fleet includes 243 of these aircraft, in addition to a sizable number of older models: 363 Boeing 737-700s and 205 Boeing 737-800s.

Future Fleet Expansion and Replacement Plans

Southwest Airlines is actively expanding its fleet and upgrading its older aircraft. Current orders include 188 additional Boeing 737 MAX 8s and 286 737 MAX 7s, with deliveries of the latter set to start next year. The airline plans to use these newer models to phase out the aging 737-700s, which have been in service for an average of 19 years.