dailynewsnblog
UPDATE: 2026/04/22 12:34 EST BY LUKE DIAZ
Southwest Airlines responded with this statement regarding the in-flight emergency of WN568:
“The Captain of Flight 568 was struck on the head by the Heads Up Display shortly before departure. A short time after takeoff, the Captain began to feel unwell. He and the First Officer opted to make a precautionary return to Las Vegas. The First Officer landed the aircraft, but the Captain felt well enough to taxi the plane safely to the gate. For medical privacy reasons, we cannot confirm specifics about any medical events that occurred after the plane was parked and the Captain had left the aircraft. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees.”
In a bizarre and literal case of catastrophic malfunction, the pilot of 
Southwest Airlines flight 568 was given a concussion when his heads-up display came loose during takeoff. The HUD is a standard piece of equipment on many 737s and rarely fails. The aircraft continued to climb in its ascent profile but the captain began to feel unwell from how hard the HUD hit him in the head, as the Independent reported.
The aircraft departed 
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas at 2:20 PM PST, on April 8. The impact caused the captain to suffer a mild concussion and experience severe symptoms, including seeing stars and vomiting. He was met at Gate Charlie 4 with a wheelchair after landing. This type of HUD malfunction is a very rare occurrence and early indication from the Federal Aviation Administration investigation is that the latch potentially failed.
A Rare Case of Bad Luck Strikes Southwest Flight 568
The First Officer took control of the Boeing 737-700 as the plane passed through 7,000 feet, reported Paddle Your Own Kanoo. He then declared an emergency and returned the aircraft safely to Las Vegas approximately 17 minutes after departure. When the HUD is deployed it does not appear to be a large device but as the entire component swung down and struck the Captain, it carried a great deal more weight and force than normal.
All passengers and crew arrived safely when the plane returned to LAS. It took about 1 hour and 30 minutes to turn around the jet after the Captain was safely escorted away to receive medical care. After what was reportedly a 2-hour delay, the plane was able to depart for its final destination at Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) for a safe touchdown, according to the Aviation Herald.
During the emergency communication with the air traffic control tower, the First Officer recounted that the Captain became disoriented and vomited shortly after he was “hit pretty hard.” The Independent reported this comment from a Southwest spokesperson:
“The First Officer landed the aircraft, but the Captain felt well enough to taxi the plane safely to the gate.”
Last Year’s United Airlines Weather Balloon Incident
A similar bizarre accident that struck the flight deck in recent history occurred when a United Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 was flying over Moab, Utah, on October 16, 2025. Flight UA1093 had departed Denver Airport (DEN) with 111 passengers and six crew bound to Los Angeles International (LAX). The Captain reported seeing a distant object on the horizon but before he could alert the First Officer it struck the windshield and shattered the outer pane.
The aircraft had collided with a weather balloon, and the impact on the cockpit glass caused fragments to burst into the flight deck and cause multiple superficial lacerations to the captain’s arm. Fortunately, the First Officer was uninjured and able to safely control the plane. There were no passenger injuries, and the cabin even retained its pressurization. The crew did declare an emergency and safely diverted to Salt Lake City (SLC), touching down just about an hour after the mishap, according to the New York Post.
Air Traffic Control Error Nearly Causes Southwest Midair Collision At Nashville
A close call for flyers in Tennessee.
Another Bizarre Breakdown Hits LATAM Flight LA800 With a Bad Day
The March 11, 2024, incident involving LATAM Airlines Flight LA800 bears striking parallels to the Southwest Flight WN568 incident, as both involved a sudden mechanical failure within the cockpit that led to pilot incapacitation. While cruising from Sydney to Auckland, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner experienced a sudden, violent plunge that dropped the aircraft roughly 300 to 400 feet in seconds.
It was discovered afterwards that the flight attendant serving a meal in the cockpit had brushed against a rocker switch on the back of the Captain’s seat that was not fully secured. The button then activated the Captain’s motorized seat adjustment and pinned him forward against the control yoke, according to Aviospace. The unintended input forced the plane into a nosedive that disengaged the autopilot.
Just like Flight 568, the Captain was completely incapacitated during the mishap. Fortunately, as on the Southwest 737, the First Officer was able to immediately take control and stabilize the aircraft to ensure the safety of flight. The violent descent resulted in 50 injuries on the 787 Dreamliner, with some passengers and crew being thrown against the cabin ceiling from the g-force of the nosedive.
