A terrifying moment unfolded at Chicago’s Midway Airport when a Southwest Airlines flight came dangerously close to colliding with another aircraft on the runway. Flight 2504 was forced into a sudden “go-around” maneuver to avoid disaster, narrowly escaping what could have been a catastrophic incident.
Southwest Airlines confirmed the incident but provided limited details, stating that passenger and crew safety remains their top priority. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the flight landed safely after the precautionary maneuver.
Aviation experts explain that “go-arounds” are used as a last-second safety measure to avoid conflicts on the runway, but the increase in such incidents post-pandemic has raised serious concerns. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into what went wrong.
This latest near-miss highlights growing fears about runway incursions, unauthorized aircraft movements, and air traffic control challenges. Video footage of the incident has surfaced, adding to the urgency of the FAA’s review.
With passenger safety on the line, the aviation industry faces mounting pressure to prevent these alarming close calls.