Probable cause
the flight attendant accidentally pouring hot water on his hand which resulted in a 2nd degree burn.
NTSB analysis
On September 25, 2017, at about 1600 CDT, Southwest Airlines flight 1813, B737-800, N500WR, was enroute to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles, California, when the "A" position flight attendant accidentally poured hot water onto his hand. The injured flight attendant was able to complete duties but was pulled from his trip upon landing. After returning home, the flight attendant visited a doctor who diagnosed him with second degree burns. There were 6 crew and 167 passengers onboard and the flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a domestic scheduled passenger flight from Chicago Midway Airport (MDW), Chicago, Illinois, to LAX.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for DCA17CA217 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 25, 2017
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Sioux City, Iowa
- Highest injury
- Serious
- Serious injuries
- 1
- Light
- Day
Boeing 737-8H4
- N-number
- N500WR
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2014
- Operating rule
- Part 121 (airline)
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.