A Southwest Airlines flight narrowly avoided catastrophe at Chicago Midway International Airport on February 25, 2025, when a business jet illegally entered the runway during landing procedures. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the aviation incident occurred after air traffic controllers repeatedly instructed the private aircraft to hold its position.
Southwest Flight 2504 from Omaha executed an emergency go-around maneuver at 1,200 feet altitude, maintaining a 2,050-foot buffer from the intruding jet according to FlightRadar24 data.
Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees,the airline stated, emphasizing their crew’s rapid response.
Key developments:
- Unauthorized runway entry by Flexjet aircraft during active landing sequence
- Multiple ATC warnings ignored before Southwest’s emergency maneuver
- Dual investigations launched by FAA and Flexjet
The incident highlights growing concerns about runway safety protocols at busy airports. Chicago Midway, which handles over 250,000 annual operations, last reported a similar near collision in 2019 involving cargo planes.
Flexjet spokesperson confirmed: We adhere to aviation’s strictest safety standards and are conducting a meticulous review. Corrective actions will prioritize preventing recurrence.
Aviation experts warn such incidents could increase without enhanced collision avoidance systems. The FAA recently reported 1,732 runway incursions in 2023 - a 25% surge from pre-pandemic levels. Modernization of aging radar infrastructure remains a contentious topic in aviation safety circles.
As investigations continue, passengers from both aircraft have been interviewed. No injuries were reported, but the psychological impact of such close calls often lingers, according to airline trauma specialists.