An off-duty pilot became a hero after helping to land a Southwest Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Columbus on Wednesday. The flight, which departed two hours earlier, was forced to return to Las Vegas after one of the pilots suffered a mid-air medical emergency.

The off-duty pilot, who was traveling as a passenger, reportedly provided assistance with radio communication while the other Southwest pilot took control of the aircraft.

Thanks to the quick thinking and expertise of the off-duty pilot and the remaining Southwest pilot, the flight landed safely.

Southwest released a statement, commending the crew for their professionalism and thanking customers for their patience.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also issued safety alerts to airlines, pilots and others, stressing the need for continued vigilance and attention to the mitigation of safety risks.

The FAA’s call for increased safety measures comes after a series of serious close calls, including a near collision between FedEx and Southwest Airlines planes in Austin, Texas, and a runway incursion at New York’s John F Kennedy Airport involving an American Airlines aircraft.

In yet another incident, a Southwest Airlines jet came within feet of slamming into an ambulance crossing the runway as it took off at Baltimore’s airport.

The FAA said the closest estimated horizontal separation occurred at a distance of 173 feet.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating these serious close calls and runway incursions, calling for operators to evaluate information collected through their safety management processes, identify hazards, increase and improve safety communications with employees, and enact mitigations.

While the overall numbers do not reflect an increase in incidents and occurrences, the potential severity of these events is concerning.

As such, the FAA is urging everyone involved in aviation to remain vigilant and take every necessary precaution to prevent accidents from happening.

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