DCA25LA185

NTSB accident investigation · Boeing 737 · Houston, TX · April 17, 2025

Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal report
Date
April 17, 2025, 11:42 local (16:42 UTC)
Place
Houston, TX · Google Earth lat/long for taxiway Hotel
Injuries
1 serious, 138 uninjured
Damage
No damage
Phase of flight
Standing
Aircraft
N7724ABoeing 737
Defining event
Standing: Evacuation
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 23, 2025
Report
Approved by Office Director
Investigation class
Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
NTSB office
Major Investigations Division
Parties
FAA AVP
Case key
200028

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

Serious Injury to a flight attendant sustained during an evacuation.

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Physical workspace: air quality/dust/smokeEnvironmental issues › Task environment · Contributed to outcomeBoeing 737-7BD: 1 caseAll aircraft: 9 cases
Impairment/incapacitation: illness/injuryPersonnel issues › Physical · Cabin crewBoeing 737-7BD: 1 caseAll aircraft: 34 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

Southwest Airlines flight 3006, a scheduled international passenger flight from William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), Houston, Texas, to Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, experienced a right engine failure resulting in an air turnback. During the turnback, a burning odor was reported in the cabin and an evacuation was commanded after landing. During the evacuation, one flight attendant (FA) sustained a serious injury. According to the flight crew, they were on day two, leg two, of a three-day line experience rotation. The first officer (FO), pilot flying, was returning from leave and the captain (CA) was a line check airman for the company. During the preflight, the flight crew discussed the automatic terminal information service (ATIS) reporting windshear and planned for a precautionary takeoff profile. The flight crew briefed the engine out procedures and the takeoff profile for runway 22. The taxi and takeoff were normal. During climb out, the flight crew observed the right engine exhaust gas temperature (EGT) indication momentarily increase into the red overtemp range, then decrease. The flight crew then heard a “popping” noise and observed the right engine N1 indication decrease to approximately 50%. The CA declared an emergency with air traffic control (ATC) and initiated the Engine Fire, Severe Damage or Separation quick reference checklist (QRC) and the quick reference handbook (QRH) procedures. The FO continued as the pilot flying and coordinated vectors for a return to HOU. The “A” FA contacted the cockpit to inform them of a burning odor in the cabin. The CA informed the FAs that they had an engine malfunction and were returning to HOU. The CA then made a public announcement informing the passengers that they would be landing in 20 minutes. After completing all appropriate checklists, the CA assumed control of the aircraft, and the FO transitioned to the pilot monitoring. The approach and landing were uneventful. ATC requested that the flight crew exit the runway at the end and coordinate with airport rescue firefighting (ARFF). After clearing the runway and stopping, the CA contacted the FA’s and was informed that there was still a strong burning odor in the cabin. At that time, the CA elected to initiate an evacuation of the airplane. The CA informed ARFF of the decision and the FO began the QRH for an evacuation. The flight crew completed the QRH procedure, including left engine shutdown and FLAP 40 extension, and the CA commanded an evacuation via the left side of the aircraft. The FO evacuated the aircraft to assist with the evacuation while the CA remained onboard until all passengers had evacuated. The CA observed passengers re-entering the aircraft from the overwing exits and then utilizing the door slides. After all passengers and flight attendants had evacuated the aircraft, the CA conducted a final walkthrough and evacuated the aircraft. On the ground, the CA learned that ARFF personnel haddirected passengers back into the aircraft due to concerns of injuries sliding off the wing. According to the “B” FA, seated in the aft galley, during takeoff there was a loud noise and followed by a burning odor. As the aircraft continued to climb the odor intensity decreased and they inspected the area and were unable to identify a source. The B FA contacted the A FA and informed them of the odor. The CA made an announcement that they had experienced an engine failure, and they would be landing in approximately 20 minutes. After landing and stopping, the CA called the FAs and asked if the odor still existed, to which the B FA replied that they still smelled a burning odor. After the evacuation, the B FA reported an injury to their ankle. They were diagnosed with a hairline fracture.

Aircraft

Registration
N7724A
Reported as
Boeing 737 (7BD)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
36725
Built
2009
Airframe hours
49,134
Engines
CFM Intl CFM56-7B24, 24,200 lbs thrust, turbo fanCFM Intl CFM56-7B24, 24,200 lbs thrust, turbo fan
Damage
No damage
Flight
Part 121
Operator
Southwest Airlines Co
Registered owner
Southwest Airlines Co
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Last inspection
Continuous airworthiness · April 13, 2025
Destination
MMSD · San Jose del Cabo, OF
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
KHOU · William P. Hobby Airport, runway 22, 7,602 × 150 ft, concrete
Equipment
Angle of attack indicator, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Heads up display, Auto-pilot, Onboard weather, Stall warning system

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 3

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Check pilot
Age
53
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
November 21, 2024
Seat
Left
Restraint
5-point
Flight hours
18,000 total · 12,000 in this make and model · 8,000 as pilot in command · 54 in the last 90 days · 34 in the last 30 days
Role
Pilot
Age
28
Injuries
None
Certificates
Airline transport, Commercial, Flight instructor, Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
April 8, 2025
Seat
Rear
Restraint
5-point
Flight hours
3,794 total · 527 in this make and model · 1,726 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days
Role
Cabin crew
Injuries
Serious
Seat
Rear
Restraint
5-point

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
170° at 15 knots, gusting 21
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
81 °F, dew point 63 °F
Altimeter
29.99 inHg
Observed at
KHOU

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 23, 2025, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.9 MB in all.