HomeTravelOrlando Airport Halts Southwest Airlines Plane Attempting Takeoff from Taxiway
Orlando Airport Halts Southwest Airlines Plane Attempting Takeoff from Taxiway

Orlando Airport Halts Southwest Airlines Plane Attempting Takeoff from Taxiway

Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson

March 21, 2025

3 min read

Brief

A Southwest Airlines plane at Orlando International Airport nearly took off from a taxiway instead of the runway. The FAA is investigating the incident; no injuries occurred.

Orlando International Airport had to step in and stop a Southwest Airlines plane from an unusual and potentially dangerous misstep: attempting to take off from a taxiway instead of the designated runway. The incident, involving Flight 3278 scheduled to depart for Albany, N.Y., unfolded on Thursday morning.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the event, which occurred around 9:30 a.m. local time. According to the FAA, an air traffic controller noticed the plane initiating its takeoff roll on a taxiway parallel to the runway and immediately revoked its clearance. Thankfully, no other aircraft were involved, and the situation was brought under control without any physical injuries reported.

Southwest Airlines issued a statement acknowledging the error, explaining that the flight crew mistook the taxiway for the nearby runway. The airline assured passengers that safety remains its top priority and emphasized that it is working with both the FAA and NTSB to thoroughly understand the circumstances of the incident.

Passengers were accommodated on another flight to Albany, ensuring their travel plans were only mildly disrupted. Southwest Airlines reinforced its commitment to safety, stating, "Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees." Well, that's a relief, especially when your plane decides to play musical chairs with airport surfaces.

This mishap comes on the heels of another recent Southwest Airlines close call involving sunglare at Chicago Midway International Airport, as reported by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). While aviation safety remains a top priority, incidents like these feel a bit too close for comfort.

Topics

Southwest AirlinesOrlando International Airporttaxiway takeoffFAA investigationaviation safetyrunway incidentflight 3278NTSBairline errorair traffic controlTravelAirlinesSafety

Editor's Comments

A plane mistaking a taxiway for a runway feels straight out of a sitcom—but the stakes couldn't be more serious. Kudos to the air traffic controller for catching it in time. Maybe it's time airlines invest in some high-tech 'road signs' for pilots—just saying.

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