Southwest pilots, executives reacted well to fatal engine failure, experts say

Despite Southwest suffering its first accident fatality, business and stock analysts said Wednesday the airline responded effectively and shouldn’t have lasting problems from the engine failure during a flight. Richard Levick, CEO of Levick public-relations who specializes in crisis management, compared the pilot, Capt. Tammie Jo Shultz, landing safely after the engine failure Tuesday to Capt. Chesley Sullenberger landing a US Airways flight on the Hudson River in 2009. “This is a story that could have been far, far worse. The dominant narrative is the hero pilot,” Levick said. “If there was anything that was done wrong, it will be the follow up story a year from now. Barring any malfeasance, Southwest looks like they handled it as well as US Airways with Sully Sullenberger.” Jim Corridore, a stock analyst at CFRA Research, said the incident was “troubling and unfortunate” after nine years without accident fatalities on US passenger airlines. But he didn’t expect long-term impact on Southwest, whose stock symbol is LUV. “Overall, we think US airlines including Southwest are very safe,” Corridore said. "We do not see a likely long-term impact on LUV shares or passenger demand to travel on Southwest, as long as this tragic incident remains an isolated one.”<br/>