Boeing 737-8H4 accident near Barlow Bend, Alabama, June 18, 2025
On June 18, 2025 at about 3:14 pm local time, a 2016 Boeing 737-8H4, registered N8685B, was involved in an accident during approach near Barlow Bend, Alabama. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 10 people had minor injuries; 167 others were unhurt. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane’s encounter with unanticipated turbulence during descent, resulting in a serious injury to a flight attendant.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 2025 · about 3:14 pm local time
- Place
- Barlow Bend, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 10 people had minor injuries; 167 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-8H4, built 2016 · all 737-8H4s on the register
- Registration
- N8685B · registry record · serial 36723
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Southwest Airlines flight 311 encountered unanticipated severe turbulence while descending through a thin cloud layer. The flight originated from Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL), Dallas, Texas, with a planned destination of Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP), Panama City, Florida. Prior to departure, the captain briefed the flight attendants (FAs) to remain seated during departure, due to cumulous cloud buildups and anticipated turbulence. While climbing to 37,000 ft (FL370), the flight encountered occasional light chop. After leveling off, the flight crew informed the FAs that they could perform their duties as assigned and turned the fasten seat belt sign off. According to the flight crew, during initial descent, at approximately FL340, the first officer made a public address (PA) announcement indicating that they had started their initial descent, to return to their seats and fasten their seatbelts for the remainder of the flight. The captain observed scattered cumulous clouds ahead of their flight path at approximately FL200 and told the FAs to secure the cabin and be seated early. The airplane descended through FL290 in a hazy cloud layer and encountered approximately 10-15 seconds of turbulence. During the turbulence encounter the autopilot disconnected, the airspeed fluctuated, and the airplane shook. The flight crew leveled off at FL270 and contacted the FAs. The flight crew were informed that several passengers and FAs were injured during the event. The flight crew notified company dispatch and air traffic control (ATC) of the turbulence encounter and the injuries. The remainder of the flight was uneventful. After parking at the gate, emergency medical services (EMS) met the airplane and transported three FAs and four passengers to the hospital for examination. One FA was diagnosed with a right ankle fracture and underwent surgery. Ten minor injuries were also reported and there was no damage to the airplane.
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
- Turbulence encounter during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › (general) › Awareness of condition
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › (general) › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,835 hours in all; 6,424 in this make and model; 101 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days; 2,833 as pilot in command; 912 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 17, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,350 hours in all; 880 in this make and model; 161 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 2,995 as pilot in command; 750 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 16, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: unk
- Injury: serious injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 30,188 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 30, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 174,700 lb
- Seats: 183
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B27E (turbofan); 30,189 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B27E (turbofan); 30,189 hours total
- Operator: Southwest Airlines CO
The flight
- Departed from: KDAL Dallas TX at 1:55 pm
- Destination: KECP Panama City FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 0.89 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 am from KECP, 130 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KECP 181453Z 14011KT 10SM BKN027 BKN033 31/23 A3012 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NW SLP209 T03110233 51010
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 5 | ||
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 4 | 166 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on December 10, 2025. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 4 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.