A Southwest jet that did a 'Dutch roll' was parked outside during severe storm
What is a "Dutch roll" as experienced by the Southwest jet?
A "Dutch roll" is an aviation phenomenon where an aircraft experiences a swaying, rhythmic combination of yaw (tail sliding sideways) and roll (wingtips rocking up and down). It can be dangerous, and modern planes have a "yaw damper" to counteract the oscillations. The Southwest jet experienced this movement at 34,000 feet and again after descending to 32,000 feet while flying from Phoenix to Oakland, California3.
How did the severe storm affect the parked Southwest jet?
The severe storm caused substantial damage to the Southwest jet's tail, where the rudder is located1. The plane was parked overnight at the New Orleans airport during the storm, which had gusting winds up to 84 mph, heavy rain, and a tornado watch. The damage likely occurred during this time, as near hurricane-force winds could have caused the rudder on the parked jet to slam back and forth.