On Tuesday morning, a Southwest Airlines pilot averted a major tragedy by preventing a collision with a private jet on a runway at the Chicago Midway International Airport. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the incident took place around 8.50 AM.
According to reports from American media, a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800, arriving from Omaha, was approaching its final landing on Runway 31C. That is when the pilot noticed a Challenger 350 private jet crossing the same runway.
The now-viral footage of the near-miss incident shows Southwest Flight 2504 making its final descent for landing when a white private jet unexpectedly appeared on the runway. The Southwest Airlines pilot quickly aborted the landing, soaring into the sky, accelerating away from the runway to avoid a collision with the jet. The jet was preparing to take off from the same runway.
The flight landed safely at the airport after the crew performed a go-around, according to Southwest Airlines, CNN reported.
Watch here:
BREAKING: Two planes nearly collided on the runway at Chicago’s Midway Airport. pic.twitter.com/SfRxAUsjhM
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 25, 2025
With over 10 million views, the video prompted a flurry of reactions on social media. “Honestly, who keeps recording these close calls as if they knew they were gonna happen, fishy if you ask me,” a user wrote. “It seems like they let children fly these regional jets. Time to have an age minimum for pilots. And not 26,” another user commented.
“Kudos to the landing pilot for paying attention and following his training,” a third user said.
The incident comes after an array of flight safety incidents in recent weeks, including the fatal midair collision over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, a Medevac jet crash in Philadelphia, and a regional airline crash off the coast of Nome, Alaska, which claimed the lives of 10 people.