A Southwest Airlines plane narrowly avoided a collision with a private jet while landing at Chicago’s Midway International Airport on Tuesday.
Southwest Jet Forced to Abort Landing
The Southwest Boeing 737-8H4 had departed from Omaha, Nebraska, earlier that morning. As it attempted to land at Midway, footage captured the terrifying moment when Flight 2504 was forced to abort its landing after briefly touching down on the runway.
The maneuver was necessary to avoid a collision with a Flexjet Bombardier Challenger 3500, which was entering its path en route to Knoxville, Tennessee.
Quick Action Prevents Disaster
The Southwest pilot executed a rapid go-around, preventing what could have been a catastrophic accident. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the plane landed safely in Chicago shortly afterward.
A Southwest spokesperson reassured passengers, stating, “The crew followed safety procedures, and the flight landed without incident. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees.”
Recent Aviation Incidents Raise Concerns
This near miss comes just days after a tragic midair collision at Arizona’s Marana Regional Airport, where two small planes— a Cessna 172S and a Lancair 360 MK II—crashed while approaching the runway, killing two people.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating both incidents as concerns over aviation safety continue to grow.
