Boeing 737-8H4 accident near Baltimore, Maryland, May 7, 2018
On May 7, 2018 at about 4:08 am local time, a 2014 Boeing 737-8H4, registered N8655D, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (from runway) near Baltimore, Maryland (Baltimore/Thurgood Marshall In airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 181 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The maintenance truck driver's failure to give way to the airplane that resulted in the truck colliding with the taxiing aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 2018 · about 4:08 am local time
- Place
- Baltimore, Maryland · Baltimore/Thurgood Marshall In · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 181 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-8H4 NO SERIES, built 2014 · all 737-8H4s on the register
- Registration
- N8655D · registry record · serial 42529
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 7, 2018, at approximately 0010 am eastern daylight time, Southwest Airlines flight 6263, a B737-800, N8655D, was struck by a Southwest Airlines maintenance truck as the aircraft was being marshaled into its gate at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (KBWI), Baltimore, Maryland. There were no injuries to the 181 passengers and crewmembers onboard and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (KFLL), Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to KBWI. According to the flight crew, they had cleared the safety zone prior to joining the J-line. According to ground witnesses, the maintenance vehicle appeared to initially slow down for the airplane, but then appeared to increase its speed to pass in front of the airplane before it could enter the gate. The airplane sustained damage to the left and right nose landing gear doors, nose landing gear trunnion fittings, and to the left-hand forward fuselage skin and stringers.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (from runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Ground crew
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,232 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 20, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 367 in this make and model
- Last flight review: December 2, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,466 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 6, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 175,000 lb
- Seats: 185
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm International CFM56-7BE/F (turbofan); 12,466 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm International CFM56-7BE/F (turbofan); 12,466 hours total
- Operator: Southwest Airlines CO
The flight
- Departed from: KFLL Fort Lauderdale FL at 2:03 am
- Destination: KBWI Baltimore MD
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 am from KBWI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 4 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| LapC | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 173 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 13, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Employee Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.