Southwest Flight 975 Returns to Phoenix After Engine Surge

Southwest Flight 975 Returns After Engine Surge

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 safely returned to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on April 6, 2026, following an engine surge en route to St. Louis. The crew declared an emergency after the left engine malfunctioned during the climb phase. All passengers were evacuated without incident and transferred to a replacement aircraft.

FAA Investigating Incident

The Federal Aviation Administration launched an investigation into the mechanical failure, Southwest Airlines confirmed. Aircraft registration N8657B was involved in the incident. Passengers experienced approximately a 2½-hour delay before continuing to St. Louis on the replacement flight.

The incident follows previous engine-related issues affecting Southwest's fleet, including an uncontained engine failure in August 2016 and a fire incident in April 2025. Officials have not yet determined the cause of the surge, though no injuries were reported among passengers or crew.