Flight Incident at Orlando Airport: Southwest Airlines Plane Nearly Takes Off from Taxiway
ORLANDO, Fla. — A Southwest Airlines flight narrowly avoided a serious incident at Orlando International Airport on Thursday when it almost took off from a taxiway instead of the designated runway, prompting intervention from air traffic control.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Passengers who were scheduled to depart for Albany, New York, were promptly rebooked on another aircraft, as the original flight was grounded for investigation purposes.
Flight 3278 had received clearance for takeoff but began its roll on a taxiway after the crew mistakenly identified it as the adjacent runway. Air traffic controllers intervened in time to cancel the takeoff clearance, averting a potential disaster.
Taxiways serve as essential pathways for aircraft to navigate between gates, hangars, and runways, whereas runways are specifically designed for takeoffs and landings.
Southwest Airlines is collaborating with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board to investigate the incident. The airline emphasized its commitment to safety, stating, “Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees.”
