Posted on 03/21/2025 5:47:58 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A Southwest Airlines flight almost took off from a taxiway — rather than a runway — at a central Florida airport on Thursday before an air traffic controller stopped the plane, officials said.
No injuries were reported, and passengers departing Orlando International Airport were accommodated on another aircraft heading to their destination of Albany, New York, the airline said in a statement. The aircraft was switched to help facilitate an investigation.
Southwest Flight 3278 had been cleared for takeoff and initiated a takeoff roll on a taxiway after the crew mistook the surface for the nearby runway, officials said. But air traffic controllers canceled the clearance before the plane could take off.
Taxiways are routes used by planes to move on the ground between gates, hangars and runways. Runways are the long, usually paved, areas of airports specifically meant for takeoffs and landings.
Southwest is working with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
“Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees,” the airline said in a statement.
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DEI at its finest?
Mods: This was also posted minutes before I did, feel free to pull.
“DEI at its finest?”
What else would do that, other than low flight hours, which means a DEI type.
Tom Cruise in the left seat?
So, then...
The ‘true pandemic’ has finally taken hold of civil aviation.
Expect more of this. The prelim report on the Delta crash should have been a glaring warning (if not other incidents before it).
But “Trump is the one endangering aviation,” ‘they’ say. /s
I sure do miss the Southwest Airlines of Herb Kellaher!
lots of crazy chit going on in aviation lately...
Bingo!
Pilot, please call this number. You’re in big trouble.
Can't get more informative than that.
“your other left”
Many many years ago I was on final approach at MCAS El Toro when an aeroclub plane was cleared for takeoff. He must have been in a hurry, because to my chagrin, he took off from the taxiway. Tower said nothing so I just kept my mouth shut.
Unless it’s demanded, the public will not know the names of the flight deck crew.
.
The ones with big white painted numbers and all the tires scuff on it is a dead give-away.
Probably ATC orders. “Flight xxxx you are cleared for take off”. Never question authority... Just follow orders.
Look at the good side. The airport has more runways than was originally thought.
That is what I was thinking might have happened here too...
You’d have to be drunk or a DEI hire to make a mistake like that.
Usually, yeah.
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