Southwest Airlines Flight Almost Takes Off from Taxiway in Florida
An incident unfolded at a central Florida airport on Thursday when a Southwest Airlines flight nearly departed from a taxiway instead of the designated runway. Quick intervention by an air traffic controller prevented any mishaps.
There were no reported injuries from the incident, and passengers on the flight departing from Orlando International Airport were re-accommodated on another plane bound for Albany, New York. The airline made this switch to assist with the ensuing investigation.
The flight, identified as Southwest Flight 3278, had been given the green light to take off but initiated its roll on a taxiway due to a misidentification by the flight crew, who mistook the taxiway for the adjacent runway. Thanks to the vigilance of air traffic controllers, the takeoff clearance was promptly rescinded before the plane could get airborne.
Taxiways are pathways utilized by aircraft for ground movement between terminals, hangars, and runways. Runways, on the other hand, are the specific areas designed for aircraft takeoffs and landings.
Southwest Airlines is actively cooperating with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board to understand the details of the incident. The airline emphasized the importance of safety in their official statement, highlighting that “Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees.”