Southwest Airlines' Flight 1248 was involved in an incident today at Chicago Midway Airport at approximately 7:15 p.m. CST while the aircraft, a Boeing 737-700, was landing. The aircraft veered off the runway onto Central and 55th Avenue, beyond the northwest corner of the runway. Flight 1248 was scheduled for a 4:50 p.m. CST departure out of Baltimore/Washington International Airport, but the aircraft's departure was delayed until 5:50 p.m. CST because of weather. The flight arrived at Chicago Midway at 7:15 p.m., after circling the Chicago Midway Airport for approximately 35 minutes.

The preliminary passenger list indicated the aircraft carried 98 passengers with a crew of five. Initial information is that 11 individuals have been taken to a local hospital while the remaining passengers have been taken to a safe place in the airport, having no reported injuries. Southwest Airlines' immediate concern is with those affected both on the aircraft and on the ground. Southwest Airlines Employees are in the process of contacting the families of passengers and crewmembers, as well as those affected on the ground. Southwest Airlines has deployed an aircraft of Employees to assist passengers of Flight 1248. Passenger names will not be released until the appropriate family members have been notified.

Southwest Airlines has the injured and the families and friends of those who have been touched by this incident in our thoughts and prayers. We are currently working with all available emergency teams at the scene in addition to assisting the families of the passengers and crewmembers onboard.

Southwest Airlines' officials are in direct contact with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and other agencies as they perform an investigation into the cause of this accident.

The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737-700 tail number N-471. Southwest took delivery of this new aircraft in July 2004. The aircraft was released from the airline's Phoenix maintenance facility on Dec. 7, 2005. There were no indications that the aircraft was experiencing any type of maintenance problems.

The Southwest Airlines Captain on Flight 1248 has been flying for the airline for ten years. The Southwest Airlines First Officer on Flight 1248 has been flying for the airline for more than two years.

A toll-free number has been established by Southwest Airlines to assist friends and family members wanting information about passengers onboard Flight 1248. That number is (800) 922-9525. Periodic updates will also be posted on the Company's web site at http://www.southwest.com.

Passengers with specific questions on flights can call (800) 435-9792 or log on to http://www.southwest.com for updated information.

SOURCE Southwest Airlines
12/09/2005

CONTACT: Media: Public Relations, 1-214-792-4847, or Customers 1-800-I-FLY-SWA or en Espanol 1-800-VAMONOS

6220 12/09/2005 01:23 EST http://www.prnewswire.com