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A Southwest Airlines plane narrowly avoided a collision with a private jet at Chicago Midway International Airport on Tuesday (February 25) morning. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the private jet entered the runway without authorization, prompting the Southwest flight crew to perform a go-around maneuver to prevent a crash. The incident occurred around 8:50 a.m. local time.
Southwest Flight 2504, arriving from Omaha, Nebraska, successfully landed after the maneuver, and no injuries were reported. According to CNN, the private jet, a Bombardier Challenger 350, was heading to Knoxville, Tennessee. Air traffic control instructed the private jet to hold short of Runway 31C, but the jet proceeded incorrectly, leading to the close call.
The incident was caught on video, showing the Southwest plane veering upwards to avoid the smaller aircraft. A Southwest spokesperson emphasized the importance of safety, stating, "Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees."
The FAA is investigating the incident as part of a broader examination of recent safety concerns in the aviation industry. This event follows several high-profile aviation incidents, including a deadly midair collision over the Potomac River last month.
You can watch the video of the near-miss below: