Officials say a Southwest Airlines flight almost took off from a taxiway — rather than a runway — at a central Florida airport on Thursday before an air traffic controller stopped the plane.

No injuries were reported, and passengers departing Orlando International Airport were accommodated on another aircraft heading to their destination of Albany, New York, the airline said in a statement. The aircraft was switched to help facilitate an investigation.

Southwest Flight 3278 had been cleared for takeoff and initiated a takeoff roll on a taxiway after the crew mistook the surface for the nearby runway, officials said. But air traffic controllers canceled the clearance before the plane could take off.

  • Ajen
    11·
    21 hours ago

    No, this was purely the pilot’s fault, and they’re employed by Southwest. The government cuts have affected ATC, but they aren’t responsible for the pilots knowing the difference between a runway and a taxiway.