FlightFinder
Check my flight
No fatalities

Passenger Assaults Flight Attendant and Jumps from Aircraft During Power Outage at Nashville Airport (N522SW)

Nashville, TN, US

On May 21, 2000, a Boeing 737-500 (registration N522SW) operated by Southwest Airlines Co. was involved in an aviation accident near Nashville, TN. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The passenger's onboard disturbance and self-evacuation from the parked aircraft, resulting in injuries. A factor in the accident was the lack of backup electrical power to the terminal which necessitated a lengthy ground hold. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 11 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered N522SW
Aircraft registered N522SW. Photo: Tomás Del Coro from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A power outage at Nashville International Airport caused by thunderstorms led to a passenger assaulting a flight attendant and jumping from a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-500, sustaining a wrist fracture.

Incident Overview

Nashville International Airport experienced a complete electrical power outage in its terminal due to transiting thunderstorms and lightning. The outage affected main terminal lighting and jetway power for approximately one hour and 30 minutes.

Aircraft and Passenger Activity

During the outage, a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-500 had cleared the runway after landing. The pilot taxied the aircraft to the parking ramp, where the crew waited for portable airstairs to arrive. After about an hour of delay, a passenger left his seat, assaulted a flight attendant, and jumped out of the aft cabin passenger-loading door.

Injuries and Response

The passenger sustained a fracture of the left wrist as a result of the jump. Airport police responded, picked up the passenger, and transported him to a medical clinic for treatment.

Related events

Same aircraft family

Same operator

More Boeing 737 safety records →

All Boeing 737-500 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 21 May 2000 Boeing 737-500 accident near Nashville, TN?

A power outage at Nashville International Airport caused by thunderstorms led to a passenger assaulting a flight attendant and jumping from a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-500, sustaining a wrist fracture.

Were there any fatalities in the 21 May 2000 Boeing 737-500 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 21 May 2000 involved a Boeing 737-500, registration N522SW, operated by Southwest Airlines Co., at Nashville, TN.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The passenger's onboard disturbance and self-evacuation from the parked aircraft, resulting in injuries. A factor in the accident was the lack of backup electrical power to the terminal which necessitated a lengthy ground hold.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X21079. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.