Southwest Airlines Flight 2504 experienced a harrowing near-miss with a private jet at Chicago Midway International Airport on Tuesday morning, raising new concerns about aviation safety as the FAA investigates the incident.
The flight, arriving from Omaha, Nebraska, was on final approach around 8:50 a.m. CT when the crew had to initiate a "go-around" due to the private jet, identified as FlexJet's Bombardier Challenger, entering the runway without authorization. The Southwest flight had descended to about 50 feet when it suddenly pulled up, narrowly avoiding what could have been a disastrous collision.
According to preliminary reports, the two aircraft were just 2,050 feet apart vertically as the Southwest Boeing 737-800 climbed back up after its aborted landing. A spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) noted the FlexJet plane had crossed runway 31C without clearance, prompting the go-around.
Audio recordings from air traffic control revealed the private jet had received clearance to cross one runway but was instructed to hold short of another. Miscommunication occurred when the pilot misreported these instructions, leading to the runway incursion. Following these events, the Southwest pilots were alerted and executed safety protocols to prevent any collision.
Southwest Airlines confirmed the incident, highlighting their commitment to passenger safety. "Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees," the airline stated. The flight eventually landed safely at Midway after the precautionary maneuver, with all on board unharmed.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are both investigating this near-miss, with the latter agency already addressing several safety incidents this month, including tragic midair collisions. Reports show these recent close calls have sparked widespread concern among travelers swayed by intensified scrutiny of aviation safety practices.
Congressman Chuy García commented on the incident, praising the outcome where no one was hurt and advocating for thorough investigations to improve safety protocols at airports. He warned against the consequences of cuts to the FAA, underscoring how detrimental such reductions could be to air travel safety.
The FAA's investigation will focus on factors contributing to this incident, such as whether crew communications and air traffic control protocols were adequately followed. Similar incidents have prompted aviation experts to call for increased scrutiny of runway incursions, which have seen higher occurrences post-pandemic. A recent report indicated the rate of serious incursions narrowly dropped from 0.4 to 0.124 per million operations between 2023 and 2024, still indicating underlying concerns.
Experts stress the importance of multiple safeguards typically ensuring passenger safety during landing and takeoff. Former NTSB Chair Robert Sumwalt noted, "There are multiple layers of defense... yet we are witnessing incidents like this where those defenses are being bypassed." He credited the proactive response from the Southwest pilots as the key factor preventing potential disaster.
FlexJet's spokesperson acknowledged awareness of the incident, asserting their adherence to the highest safety standards and commitment to investigating the circumstances of the incursion. They stated, "Any action to rectify and guarantee safety standards will be taken." FlexJet operates aircraft seating up to nine passengers, and its leader emphasized thorough scrutiny as part of their operational protocols.
The benign outcome of Tuesday's near-miss should not overshadow the backdrop of unsettling events experienced by the aviation sector, particularly as airlines rush to recuperate post-COVID. With air travel authorities facing staffing shortages, operational pressure is directly increasing the potential for miscommunication, which could lead to dire consequences.
The Federal Aviation Administration also managed to confirm, "The crew of Southwest Airlines Flight 2504 followed safety procedures, and the flight landed without incident." While incidents like Tuesday's near-miss are shocking, they reinforce the imperative for continuous evaluation of safety measures and proactive responses by flight crews.
Meanwhile, as investigations proceed, the industry remains vigilant, with urgent calls for improved communication channels among air traffic control and pilots. Safety experts hope this near-miss becomes not just another statistic, but rather, serves as pivotal learning for refining safety measures to prevent future occurrences.
Efforts to strengthen operational protocols are imperative as previous incidents continue to linger. Following tragedies and near misses alike, attention on clear communication and strict adherence to guidelines remains at the forefront of aviation safety discussions.