Southwest Airlines Pilot Executes Emergency Maneuver to Avoid Collision at Midway Airport

A Southwest Airlines flight attempting to land at Chicago Midway International Airport had to abort its descent Tuesday morning after a private jet unexpectedly crossed its path.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident, which occurred just before 9 a.m. and was captured on video.

Southwest Airlines Flight 2504, arriving from Omaha, Nebraska, was in its final approach when the pilot executed a “go-around” maneuver—an emergency procedure used to avoid unsafe landing conditions. Footage of the event shows the Boeing 737 just moments from touchdown before rapidly ascending as a smaller business jet taxis onto the runway without clearance. The Southwest flight later landed safely.

One passenger, Caley Maszk, recalled feeling as though the plane was only “inches” from the ground before suddenly pulling back up. However, she and other passengers remained unaware of the seriousness of the situation until much later.

“We didn’t think anything happened because [the pilot] was so calm,” she said.

After safely reaching an altitude of 3,000 feet, the Southwest pilot was heard over radio communications asking, “Uh, how’d that happen?”—a reflection of the unexpected nature of the runway incursion.

The FAA confirmed that the private jet, operated by Flexjet, was on the runway without authorization. Audio from air traffic control suggests the pilot of the smaller aircraft may have misunderstood instructions.

Flexjet issued a statement saying it is conducting an internal review, emphasizing its commitment to “the highest safety standards.”

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has joined the FAA in investigating the incident, which is one of several recent aviation close calls across the country.

Southwest Airlines commended its flight crew for swiftly responding to the situation, confirming that the pilots “performed a precautionary go-around to avoid a potential conflict with another aircraft.”

Bill Bernal, president of the Transport Workers Union Local 556, which represents Southwest Airlines flight attendants, also praised the crew’s response.

“Dedication to training and experience saved lives today,” he said.

Maszk, the passenger from Omaha, echoed this sentiment, saying she is “very grateful” for the pilot’s quick reaction.

“If I ever get the chance to see him, I’ll give him a great big hug because I’m so thankful,” she said.

The incident at Midway is one of multiple aviation safety events in recent weeks, reigniting concerns about air traffic control procedures and runway safety.

Within 90 minutes of the Midway near-miss, an American Airlines flight at Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport also had to abort its landing due to another aircraft on the runway. The past month has also seen several deadly crashes in North America, including a midair collision at National Airport and a medical transport jet crash in Philadelphia.

Former FAA investigator Jeff Guzzetti called Tuesday’s event a “very serious runway incursion” but noted that overall, these types of incidents have been decreasing. FAA data shows that 2023 had the lowest number of serious runway incursions in a decade, with just seven recorded so far in 2024.

US Representative Jesús “Chuy” García has called for a full investigation into the Midway incident, emphasizing the need for robust safety measures.

“This was a close call, and we need to know how it happened,” he said.

Chicago Sun-Times Media and the New York Times contributed to this report.