A Southwest Airlines flight was forced to make a sudden maneuver at Chicago’s Midway Airport on Tuesday morning to steer clear of a potential runway conflict with another aircraft. Footage from an airport webcam revealed that just before 9 a.m., the Southwest plane was in its landing approach when it abruptly ascended as a smaller jet crossed its intended runway.
Southwest Flight 2504 eventually landed safely after executing a precautionary go-around to avoid a possible collision, as confirmed by an airline spokesperson. The crew adhered to safety protocols throughout the incident, ensuring the flight concluded without mishap.
Audio recordings unveiled a miscommunication between the smaller jet’s pilot and the control tower. The pilot initially misunderstood instructions to “hold short” of a runway, prompting the tower to reiterate the command: “hold your position there.” Moments later, a further instruction was repeated to the pilot of FlexJet560, emphasizing the need to remain clear of runway 31 center.
In a separate audio recording, the Southwest crew can be heard reporting their decision to execute a go-around and subsequently climbing to 3,000 feet while following new directives from air traffic control. The pilot of Southwest 2504 questioned the tower, asking how the runway incursion had occurred.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the business jet, owned by Flexjet, entered the runway without permission. Flexjet has acknowledged awareness of the incident and is conducting an internal investigation to uphold their safety standards.
Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched investigations into the matter. FlightAware data indicated the Southwest flight was arriving from Omaha, Nebraska, bound for Midway Airport.
Jeff Guzzetti, a former FAA investigator, remarked that the business jet failed to comply with clear instructions, labeling the event as a significant runway incursion. Nonetheless, he noted that similar serious incidents have been on the decline, with only seven occurrences in 2024 compared to 22 in the previous year.
Guzzetti reflected on various factors that might contribute to such incidents, such as distractions among the crew or workload pressure on controllers. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy stressed the importance of pilots adhering to air traffic instructions to prevent license revocations.
John Goglia, another ex-NTSB member, viewed the incident as a confirmation of the system’s efficacy, citing the Southwest pilot’s awareness and decisive action as crucial in averting disaster. Investigators are likely to examine staffing levels and clarity of tower communications.
Recently, North America has witnessed multiple aviation mishaps, including a tragic commuter plane crash in Alaska and a devastating midair collision at Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport. These events underscore the ongoing need for vigilant attention to air traffic procedures,
among other possible causes of such aerial incidents.