A Southwest Airlines flight nearly took off from a Florida taxiway on Thursday before an air traffic controller stopped the potentially dangerous departure, officials said.
The incident involving Flight 3278 unfolded at Orlando International Airport at 9:30 a.m. as the plane attempted to depart for Albany, officials said.
Southwest Airlines said its crew “mistook the surface for the nearby runway” and no injuries were reported.
Taxiways are used by planes to get to runways, from gates and hangars. They’re not designed for takeoffs.
"An air traffic controller at Orlando International Airport canceled the takeoff clearance for Southwest Airlines Flight 3278 ... after the aircraft began its takeoff roll on a taxiway," according to a Federal Aviation Administration statement.
"The taxiway runs parallel to the runway. The flight was headed to Albany International Airport in New York. No other aircraft were involved. The FAA is investigating."
All the Albany-bound travelers were put on another flight, with a new crew, the airline said.
Flight 3278 typically leaves Orlando at 9:25 a.m. to land at the New York state capital at 12:10 p.m. This taxiway error, however, pushed takeoff to 1:10 p.m. and arrival to 3:31 p.m.
While federal officials continue to remind Americans that air travel is as safe as it’s ever been, a series of recent catastrophes and incidents has spooked the flying public.
- A midair collision near Ronald Reagan National Airport on Jan. 29 killed 67 people aboard a military helicopter and American Flight 5342 from Wichita.
- An air ambulance crashed in northeast Philadelphia on Feb. 1, killing seven people.
- All 10 people on board Bering Air Flight 445 died when the plane crashed on its way to Nome, Alaska, on Feb. 6.
- Delta Air Lines Flight 4819, from Minneapolis, flipped upside down on the runway at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Feb. 17. No one was killed but 18 people were injured.
- Southwest Flight 2504 and a private jet nearly collided at Chicago’s Midway International Airport on Feb. 25.
"Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees," SWA said of its latest incident.
