History of Flight
On December 20, 2023, at approximately 1414 central standard time, Southwest Airlines Flight 554, a Boeing 737-8 (registration N8830Q), departed from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) en route to Tampa International Airport. During the initial climb, the No. 1 engine ingested a bird. The flight crew reported hearing a thump on the left side of the airplane, followed by violent shaking and a loss of thrust. The engine master caution activated, and the fire bell sounded. The captain called for the Engine Fire or Engine Severe Damage or Separation checklist. After the first officer began the checklist, white smoke filled the flight deck, prompting the pilots to don oxygen masks. The crew declared an emergency and requested airport rescue and firefighting (ARFF) services. The captain noted that cockpit visibility was severely restricted until the engine fire switch was pulled, after which the smoke dissipated. The aircraft landed safely at MSY, and ARFF inspected it before the crew taxied to the gate. All 139 occupants deplaned without injury.
Aircraft and Engine Information
The airplane was powered by two CFM International LEAP-1B engines, which incorporate a load reduction device (LRD) designed to disconnect the fan from the turbomachinery during a significant imbalance, thereby reducing airframe vibration. The LRD activates automatically without pilot input. Each engine includes a pneumatic bleed shutoff valve (PRSOV) that, when closed, prevents bleed air from entering the aircraft. Pulling the engine fire switch automatically closes the PRSOV.
Postincident Findings
Examination revealed that the left engine's LRD had activated, causing oil supply tubes to become dislodged and a sump flange to open. Oil entered the core compressor upstream of the bleed ports, where high temperatures generated smoke that entered the cockpit. The digital flight data recorder showed that after the bird strike, left engine N1 dropped from 83% to 75%, then stabilized at 6% after about 28 seconds. Left engine oil quantity decreased from 16.25 quarts to 3.5 quarts.
Operational and Regulatory Response
According to the FAA Wildlife Strike Database, approximately 292,000 wildlife strikes with civil aircraft occurred between 1990 and 2023, including 19,400 strikes at 713 U.S. airports in 2023. The species struck in this incident was a bald eagle. Following the event, Boeing released a Flight Crew Operations Manual (FCOM) bulletin on February 9, 2024, and updated the FCOM and Quick Reference Handbook (QRH) to include engine failure with smoke or fumes as a condition for referencing the Engine Fire or Engine Severe Damage or Separation QRC. Southwest Airlines issued a Read Before Fly brief to pilots on February 14, 2024, incorporating the updates.
Safety Recommendations and Ongoing Efforts
On June 18, 2025, the NTSB issued Safety Recommendations A-25-10 through -14 related to this incident. CFM International and Boeing are developing a software update to close the PRSOV automatically when the LRD activates, with anticipated completion in the first quarter of 2026. The FAA convened a corrective action review board in November 2024 but determined no immediate action was warranted.
Toxicological Study
The NTSB conducted a study on potential toxic effects of cockpit smoke. No evidence was found that the pilots experienced impairing irritant or toxic symptoms during the flight, and no adverse health effects were conclusively identified, though the captain reported incompletely characterized respiratory symptoms in the months following.