Southwest flight aborts landing to avoid potential crash with jet at Midway: VIDEO

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A Southwest Airlines pilot was forced to abort their landing to avoid potentially hitting a jet on the runway at Chicago Midway International Airport on Tuesday morning.

The pilot made what is called a "go-around" to avoid a potential collision.

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It was another close call in a long list of serious airport incidents that have happened over the past few weeks.

Aviation experts told the ABC7 I-Team this could have been much different if the Southwest pilot had not performed that potentially lifesaving maneuver.

Video shows Southwest flight 2504, inbound from Omaha, on descent to Midway, just 50 feet from touching down on the runway, before it was forced to pull up after a business jet flying to Knoxville taxied right in front of them.

That jet initially read back bad information. Midway air traffic control corrected the information and warned the jet's pilot to hold position away from center runway 31 at least nine times. But the pilot apparently ignored those instructions.

The pilot of Southwest flight 2504 performed a potentially lifesaving "go-around" to avoid a possible crash.

Dr. Ryan Phillips is the chair of aviation at Lewis University in Romeoville.

"It is considered a higher workload maneuver. You're in the mindset of, OK, we're coming in to land. And then, to go from that to having to add throttle and climb out again. But again, it's something that crews are trained for," Phillips said.

A Southwest Airlines pilot was forced to abort their landing to avoid potentially hitting a jet on the runway at Chicago Midway International Airport on Tuesday morning.

Just 2,050 feet separated the two planes, according to FlightAware audio.

"Possibly just a misunderstanding or miscommunication, and the communication is a two way. Street instructions were given perception, maybe of the pilot was different. But again, that's why it's important with training to make sure that you clarify those points," Phillips said.

EarthCam footage shows the Southwest flight landing safely a short time later.

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"We just didn't really think that anything was like wrong. We just thought it was just like a normal situation that happens every day," said passenger Caley Maszk.

Maszk and Emily Novak, of Omaha, were onboard flight 2504, and said they were on their way to a girls' trip in Dallas with a layover at Midway.

Both said they did not realize what was happening when the plane suddenly pulled up from landing.

"We descended down. You got that stomach feeling of you're about to land, and all of a sudden it just goes right back up," Maszk told the I-Team. "We just didn't really think that anything was, like, wrong. We just thought it was just like a normal situation that happens every day."

"It seems a little surreal," said Novak. "At the time, we didn't realize what had happened or the potential that could have happened."

Maszk said with all of the high-profile aircraft crashes and incidents recently, she was feeling nervous to fly.

"I was kind of anxious about flying, because there's been so many, you know, crashes and things happening with the planes, so I was already anxious to begin with," Maszk said. "And then when that happens, I was just very thankful, very thankful of how everything turned out. Very thankful for the pilot that we had."

"If I could hug the pilot right now, I probably would," Maszk told the I-Team.

The Federal Aviation Administration says it is investigating the incident and issued a statement saying, in part, "The crew of Southwest Airlines Flight 2504 initiated a go-around when a business jet entered the runway without authorization at Chicago Midway Airport."

Midway is one of 45 airports currently being audited by the FAA for the risks of "runway incursions" or near-miss incidents, like what happened on Tuesday, an FAA spokesperson confirmed to the ABC7 I-Team.

The audit, which is expected to be finished sometime in early 2025, will include a risk profile for each airport, and the FAA says it will identify any potential gaps in procedures, equipment, and any other safety recommendations.

Ohio-based aviation firm FlexJet owns the business jet involved in the incident. Flexjet issued a statement, saying, "We are aware of the occurrence today in Chicago. Flexjet adheres to the highest safety standards and we are conducting a thorough investigation. Any action to rectify and ensure the highest safety standards will be taken."

For its part, Southwest said, "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."

U.S. Transportation Sean Duffy issued a statement on X, saying, "The @NTSB and @FAANews are investigating the Chicago Midway International Airport incident. I will provide more updates once I have them.

However, it is imperative that pilots follow the instructions of air traffic controllers. If they do not, their licenses will be pulled."

The National Transportation Safety Board issued a statement, saying, "NTSB is investigating Tuesday's runway incursion that occurred when a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 initiated a go-around after a business jet entered the same runway at Chicago Midway International Airport."

Congressman Jesús "Chuy" García issued a statement, saying, "Thankful no one was hurt in the Midway near-miss. This was a close call, and we need to know how it happened. I'll be pressing for a full investigation to keep our skies and airports safe. This is why cuts to FAA are dangerous."