A near-disaster unfolded at Chicago Midway International Airport on Tuesday morning when Southwest Airlines Flight 2504 was forced to abort its landing to avoid colliding with a private jet that had crossed onto the runway.
Southwest Airlines averts disaster on Chicago airport runway
The dramatic moment, captured on video, shows the Southwest aircraft attempting to land before swiftly pulling up to avoid the FlexJet Challenger 350, which was crossing Runway 31C.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed that the incident involved FlexJet Flight LXJ560, which had landed and was taxiing across the active runway when the Southwest flight was making its final approach.
According to reports, air traffic control recordings indicate that Southwest pilots were given clearance to land, while FlexJet was instructed to hold short of the runway—an order it seemingly failed to follow.
A Southwest Airlines spokesperson acknowledged the event, stating:
“Southwest Flight 2504 safely performed a go-around at Midway Airport on Tuesday morning to avoid another aircraft that was taxiing. The flight later landed safely without incident.”
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched investigations to determine what led to the runway incursion.
Early reports suggest that pilot miscommunication or an air traffic control oversight may have played a role.
While no injuries or damages were reported, the event has raised concerns about aviation safety, particularly in the wake of recent high-profile air traffic incidents across the US.
The near-collision comes amid heightened scrutiny on air safety protocols after a series of mishaps involving major airlines, including Delta Airlines, which recently experienced multiple emergency landings due to onboard smoke incidents.
More details are expected as the investigation progresses.
