Return to field — SWA4118

KSAN · 09

2026-09-04 00:00 UTC· KSAN KSAN· SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO· B738

SWA4118 (Southwest Airlines) was operating from KSAN to KBWI (Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport) on 2026-09-04. SkyMeter detected a return to field at San Diego International Airport (KSAN) on runway 09 at 00:00 UTC. Peak cruise altitude FL399, turnaround area near Arvin, US. METAR at the time reported 0 kt wind, 16,093 m visibility. Detection algorithm and known limitations: see SkyMeter methodology.

Active FAA TFR during this flight

Source: FAA TFR archive (hourly snapshot)
  • SECURITY6/2652 2026-07-05 00:01Z – 2027-01-02 23:59Z SFC–500 ft

    Coyote Wells, CA, Saturday, July 4, 2026 through Saturday, January 2, 2027 Local

    View FAA NOTAM →
  • SECURITY6/4812 2026-07-15 07:00Z – 2027-07-14 06:59Z SFC–17,999 ft

    El Centro, CA, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 through Tuesday, July 13, 2027 Local

    View FAA NOTAM →
  • HAZARDS6/8070 2026-08-26 03:00Z – 2026-09-10 03:00Z SFC–8,500 ft

    8NM SE BIG SUR, CA, Wednesday, August 26, 2026 through Thursday, September 10, 2026 UTC

    View FAA NOTAM →
  • HAZARDS6/8454 2026-08-26 21:15Z – 2026-09-09 03:00Z SFC–7,500 ft

    20NM SW KING CITY, CA, Wednesday, August 26, 2026 through Wednesday, September 9, 2026 UTC

    View FAA NOTAM →
  • HAZARDS6/8493 2026-08-27 13:00Z – 2026-09-10 03:00Z SFC–8,000 ft

    20NM SW KING CITY, CA, Thursday, August 27, 2026 through Thursday, September 10, 2026 UTC

    View FAA NOTAM →
  • HAZARDS6/8735 2026-08-28 13:00Z – 2026-09-13 03:00Z SFC–8,000 ft

    20NM SW KING CITY, CA, Friday, August 28, 2026 through Sunday, September 13, 2026 UTC

    View FAA NOTAM →
  • HAZARDS6/8902 2026-08-29 13:00Z – 2026-09-13 03:00Z SFC–8,500 ft

    20NM SW KING CITY, CA, Saturday, August 29, 2026 through Sunday, September 13, 2026 UTC

    View FAA NOTAM →
  • HAZARDS6/9187 2026-08-30 13:00Z – 2026-09-13 03:00Z SFC–8,500 ft

    20NM SW KING CITY, CA, Sunday, August 30, 2026 through Sunday, September 13, 2026 UTC

    View FAA NOTAM →
  • HAZARDS6/0223 2026-09-02 02:30Z – 2026-09-16 03:00Z SFC–8,000 ft

    30NM NE MERCED, CA, Wednesday, September 2, 2026 through Wednesday, September 16, 2026 UTC

    View FAA NOTAM →
  • HAZARDS6/0685 2026-09-03 03:30Z – 2026-09-17 03:00Z SFC–3,500 ft

    7NM SE MISSION VIEJO, CA, Thursday, September 3, 2026 through Thursday, September 17, 2026 UTC

    View FAA NOTAM →
  • HAZARDS6/0784 2026-09-03 14:30Z – 2026-09-17 03:00Z SFC–3,500 ft

    7NM SE MISSION VIEJO, CA, Thursday, September 3, 2026 through Thursday, September 17, 2026 UTC

    View FAA NOTAM →

SkyMeter cross-referenced this flight against FAA-published TFRs that were active during its window and within its geographic bounding box. Overlap doesn't necessarily mean violation — the aircraft may have been outside the TFR’s precise polygon or flying under air-traffic-control coordination.

Pilot review data

  • Runway 09
  • 39986 ft AGL at event
  • 476 kt ground speed
  • 0 fpm vertical
  • 0 kt wind
  • 0 kt crosswind component
  • 16,093 m visibility
  • KSAN 161851Z 23010G22KT 200V290 10SM SCT027 SCT035 24/14 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP168 T02390144 $

Flight context

  • SWA4118
  • Southwest Airlines
  • B738
  • KSAN → KSAN
  • 2026-09-04 00:00 UTC
  • KSAN runway 09

All events on this flight

Return to field 00:00:02 UTC · KSAN runway 09 · 39,986 ft AGL · 476 kt GS
Go-around 00:32:35 UTC · KSAN runway 27 · 555 ft AGL · 153 kt GS

Automated analysis. Events shown on this page (such as go-around, unstable approach, or runway events) are heuristic classifications produced by algorithms from publicly broadcast ADS-B data. They are intended to surface flights of interest for further review — they are not findings of fact, and they do not determine pilot fault, regulatory compliance, or the cause of any occurrence. Coverage gaps and sensor noise can affect accuracy. Only the relevant civil aviation authority or accident investigation body can make official determinations. How we detect events · Dispute or correct this data

SkyMeter · trace data observed via ADS-B· KSAN