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A Southwest Airlines jet landing at Chicago Midway Feb., 18, 2025 (this is not the aircraft in the Feb. 25 incident).
The pilots of a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 prevented a potential surface collision at Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) on Feb. 25, executing a late go-around to pass over a Flexjet Bombardier Challenger 350 crossing the 737-800’s assigned arrival runway.
The commercial jet was within seconds of touching down on Runway 31 Center when it accelerated and climbed over the Challenger, video shared on social media shows. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating the incident, which took place around 8:50 a.m. local time.
“The crew of Southwest Airlines Flight 2504 initiated a go-around when a business jet entered the runway without authorization at Chicago Midway Airport,” FAA confirmed. Flight 2504 from Omaha Eppley Airfield landed at MDW roughly 10 minutes later, FlightAware tracking shows.
“Southwest Airlines Flight 2504 landed safely at Chicago Midway Airport on Tuesday morning after the crew performed a precautionary go-around to avoid a possible conflict with another aircraft that entered the runway,” the airline said in a statement. “The crew followed safety procedures, and the flight landed without incident. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees.”
Audio from LiveATC.net suggests the smaller jet’s crew was confused about its taxi instructions from air traffic control (ATC). Instructions from ATC included a command to hold short of Runway 31C, the Southwest flight’s assigned arrival runway. But the business jet’s readback was incorrect. ATC then re-stated the correct instructions.
“Flexjet 560 turn left on runway four left, cross runway three-one left, and hold short of runway three one center,” the tower initially advised.
A Flexjet pilot responds, “Alright, left on four left—cross two-two, uh, one-three center, Flexjet 560.”
ATC quickly responds, “Flexjet 560, negative. Cross runway three-one left and hold short of runway three one center.”
The Flexjet pilot responds with the correct instructions, but did not hold short at 31C, forcing the Southwest crew to take evasive action. Later, ordered to climb to 3,000 ft., Southwest Flight 2504 asks ATC, “how’d that happen?”
ATC soon advises the smaller jet to contact Midway tower, for “possible pilot deviation.”
A Flexjet spokesperson said the company is “aware of the occurrence” and “conducting a thorough investigation.” The spokesperson said, “Flexjet adheres to the highest safety standards … Any action to rectify and ensure the highest safety standards will be taken.”
The number of passengers aboard the business and commercial jets were not made available. Flexjet’s Challenger 350s can accommodate up to nine passengers, according to the fractional fleet operator’s website, while Southwest’s 737-800s are configured with 175 seats.
Runway incursions have been the focus of several safety improvement efforts by U.S. regulators, including a recent push from FAA to reduce high-risk airport surface occurrences following an early 2023 spike in incidents. Progress was made last year, according to FAA data, as seven Category A or B incursions were reported in 2024, representing a drop from 2023’s total of 22. These were the fewest reported in at least a decade.
Total incursions fell in 2024, from 1,033 to 1,010, FAA data show. They also occurred less frequently—29 per million departures in 2024, down from 33 per million the previous year. Pilot deviations remain the most common type of incursion, accounting for about 60% of all reported incidents.
Christine Boynton is a Senior Editor covering air transport in the Americas for Aviation Week Network.
Senior Air Transport & Safety Editor Sean Broderick covers aviation safety, MRO, and the airline business from Aviation Week Network's Washington, D.C. office.
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