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NTSB Probes Cleveland Near‑Miss After Southwest Jet Breaks Off Landing

Investigators are scrutinizing a tower acknowledgment that let a medical helicopter pass ahead of the arriving jet.

Overview

  • Southwest Flight 1333 received a TCAS resolution advisory on final approach to Cleveland Hopkins on Oct. 29 and executed a go‑around before landing safely.
  • Flight‑tracking data show the 737 and an Airbus H145 helicopter were both around 2,075 feet with roughly 0.56 miles of lateral separation when the alert triggered.
  • Tower audio captures the controller asking the helicopter to pass behind the jet, the pilot proposing to go above and in front, and the controller replying, "Roger."
  • Metro Aviation, which operates the Life Flight helicopter, says the aircraft was heading to collect a patient and had no patient on board at the time.
  • The NTSB has sent a team to examine ATC procedures, pilot decision‑making, and collision‑avoidance performance as broader concerns grow over helicopter routing and controller staffing during the shutdown.