The Southwest pilot was forced to abort the landing.
A terrifying near-miss at Chicago Midway Airport on Tuesday morning saw a Southwest Airlines plane come within moments of disaster, forced to abort landing at the last second as a private jet rolled across its path without authorization. “Abort! abort!” — Seconds to spare Southwest Flight 2504, a Boeing 737 inbound from Omaha, Nebraska, was mere feet from touching down when the private Challenger 350 suddenly moved onto the runway, creating a potentially catastrophic scenario. Shocking footage captured the moment the Southwest pilots had to react instantly—yanking the plane back into the air just before impact. Passengers onboard felt the engines surge as the aircraft climbed sharply to avoid a deadly crash. “The crew followed safety procedures, and the flight landed without incident,” Southwest Airlines later confirmed, though the dramatic moment left many shaken. FAA investigates ‘runway incursion‘ The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the unauthorized movement of the private jet, which departed for Knoxville, Tennessee, shortly after the incident. Officials are examining whether pilot error, miscommunication, or an air traffic control oversight led to the close call. While no injuries were reported, aviation experts say the event underscores growing concerns about runway safety and near-collisions at major airports. String of aviation disasters raises alarm This near-disaster comes amid a wave of aviation tragedies making headlines in recent weeks:
January 2024: A US Army helicopter collided with an American Airlines plane near Washington, DC, killing 67 people.
February 2024: A medical jet plummeted into a Philadelphia street, exploding on impact and killing seven.
Last week: A Delta flight crash-landed in Toronto, flipping upside down and bursting into flames.
