It does defy comprehension. One of the things I find interesting here is the relationship between the end of runway 22, the end of runway 26, and the control tower. Given these locations, I can see how such a mistake could happen at this particular airport compared to most other airports. See the .pdf of the airport layout here.
However, it would require a simultaneous screw-up by the pilot, first officer, and tower controller. That's what is so surprising.
Why would a pilot take off from an unlit runway? That shorter runway was for daylight use only. Was it dark at 6AM in Lexington, anyone know?
It looks like he taxiied out of the terminal, got on taxiway A to the end of runway 26, and instead of continuing across runway 26 to taxiway A7 and then taking that dogleg over to 22, he just turned left onto 26 and took off. I would love to see what the runway/taxiway signage looks like right there.
Another question. I'm assuming, since KLEX is a fairly big airport, that 04/22 is lit full-time? 08/26 isn't--there's a note about "MIRL out of service." Are the MIRL the runway edge lights? And is 04/22 not lit full-time?
}:-)4