On Tuesday morning, pilots aboard a Southwest Airlines flight destined for Chicago’s Midway Airport had to make a quick decision to ascend again when a smaller aircraft crossed the runway in their path.
The incident occurred just before 9 a.m. Footage from an airport webcam shows the Southwest plane approaching the runway, only for the nose to suddenly pitch skyward as a smaller jet traverses the intended landing path.
A spokesperson from Southwest Airlines stated that Flight 2504 successfully landed after executing a precautionary go-around maneuver to avoid conflict with the other aircraft. The flight crew adhered to safety protocols without subsequent incidents.
Audio communications revealed a miscommunication between the smaller jet and the control tower. The pilot of the business jet incorrectly understood instructions, despite the ground control reiterating to “hold short” of the runway. Just 30 seconds later, the pilot was instructed to “hold your position there.” Eventually, the tower clarified for “FlexJet560, your instructions were to hold short of runway 31 center.”
Parallel recordings documented the Southwest pilot alerting a ground tower operator of Flight 2504’s maneuver to ascend back to 3,000 feet. Shortly after, the pilot inquired, “Southwest 2504, how’d that happen?” The business aircraft entered the runway without proper authorization, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Flexjet, the jet’s owner, acknowledged the situation, stating that they are committed to the highest safety standards and are conducting a thorough investigation into the incident to determine any necessary corrective actions.
Investigations by both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are underway. FlightAware records indicate that the Southwest flight originated from Omaha, Nebraska, heading towards Midway Airport. Former NSTB member and FAA investigator Jeff Guzzetti noted the business jet disregarded clear instructions not to cross the runway, terming it a “serious runway incursion.” However, he highlighted a positive trend, noting a decrease in such incidents, with 22 in 2023 and only seven in 2024.
Possible contributing factors to such events, Guzzetti suggested, include pilot distraction or an overworked air traffic controller. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized on social media the importance of pilots following air traffic directives; failing to do so might result in the revocation of their licenses.
John Goglia, another former NTSB member, remarked that the system functioned as intended because the Southwest pilot recognized the potential danger and responded accordingly. Future investigations will likely review aspects such as ground control staffing levels and clarity of given instructions to prevent miscommunications or misunderstandings.
Recently, North America has witnessed several major aviation incidents. Notable tragedies include a commuter plane crash in Alaska on February 6, resulting in ten fatalities; a January 26 midair collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines jet near Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport, claiming the lives of 67 people; a January 31 crash of a medical transport jet in Philadelphia, which killed seven, including a child patient and her mother; and a Delta flight accident on February 17 in Toronto, injuring 21 people.
