A Southwest Airlines flight narrowly avoided a collision with a private jet at Chicago's Midway Airport on Tuesday, February 25, leading to an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Key details from the incident include the following:

• The Southwest Airlines Flight 2504 from Omaha initiated a go-around when the private jet, a FlexJet Bombardier Challenger, entered the runway without clearance.
• Just moments before the incident, the Southwest plane was approximately 625 meters away from the private jet when it aborted its landing, a maneuver captured in dramatic video footage.
• Audio recordings indicated a miscommunication by the private jet's pilot regarding air traffic control instructions, which led to the unauthorized runway entry.

At around 8:50 a.m. local time, the Southwest flight was descending before its pilots received the command to ascend back to 3,000 feet, successfully avoiding what could have been a catastrophic incident. The airline reported that its crew "followed safety procedures," landing the aircraft safely shortly after a precautionary go-around.

The FAA confirmed that the private jet had received explicit instructions to hold short of the runway before mistakenly crossing it. Investigators from both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are looking into this incident, emphasizing the critical importance of adherence to air traffic control commands ABC News.

As incidents involving runway incursions have reportedly increased in the past few years, aviation safety experts are reevaluating procedures to ensure passenger safety. On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy noted that this situation underlines the necessity for pilots to strictly follow instructions from air traffic controllers. "If they do not, their licenses will be pulled," said Duffy.

This near-miss is part of a troubling trend in aviation, as highlighted by the spike in incidents in recent months, including a midair collision that occurred in January 2025, resulting in tragic losses of life Newsweek.

The investigation continues, with the FAA assessing every detail surrounding the operations at busy airports like Midway, where Southwest Airlines is a leading carrier.

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