Southwest flight tried to take off from Florida taxiway after crew mistook it for runway

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Well ... one day the Southwest guys are heroes for going around when the Flexjet guys can't figure out which is a runway or a taxi way, and now the Southwest guys look like they can't tell a taxiway from a runway. You can't make this stuff up ... :dunno:
 
Daleandee said:
Well ... one day the Southwest guys are heroes for going around when the Flexjet guys can't figure out which is a runway or a taxi way, and now the Southwest guys look like they can't tell a taxiway from a runway. You can't make this stuff up ... :dunno:
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It’s ok. Probably some guys south west hired from flexjet working the flight.
 
Big time lack of situational awareness

I guess these guys or gals will be flying dog food all night in beat-up 207's
 
Daleandee said:
Well ... one day the Southwest guys are heroes for going around when the Flexjet guys can't figure out which is a runway or a taxi way, and now the Southwest guys look like they can't tell a taxiway from a runway. You can't make this stuff up ... :dunno:
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https://www.cbsnews.com/us?ftag=CNM-16-10abg0d
Southwest Airlines flight almost takes off from taxiway rather than runway at Orlando airport
March 21, 2025 / 5:30 AM EDT / CBS/AP

Orlando, Fla. — 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, officials said.

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.

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.

***

Gee, I wonder what investigating the airplane might reveal?
 
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Rene said:
Gee, I wonder what investigating the airplane might reveal?
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You need to stop being so opinionated. Leave it to the old people. There are a few modern pieces of equipment on that plane that recorded data which could be useful in the investigation.

The aircraft has a CVR that will probably be downloaded to figure out what was the cockpit environment that led to this error. Human factors is a big thing, and punishing the pilots is not always the right (or only) action to be taken. Maybe an aircraft fault or ATC comm distracted them. Or something else. Understanding how the crew got there is very important, and their recollection of the event might not match reality that well.

The airplane records a lot of data that might be overwritten if it's allowed to continue flying. You need to secure it all before that can happen.
 
AV8R_87 said:
You need to stop being so opinionated. Leave it to the old people. There are a few modern pieces of equipment on that plane that recorded data which could be useful in the investigation.

The aircraft has a CVR that will probably be downloaded to figure out what was the cockpit environment that led to this error. Human factors is a big thing, and punishing the pilots is not always the right (or only) action to be taken. Maybe an aircraft fault or ATC comm distracted them. Or something else. Understanding how the crew got there is very important, and their recollection of the event might not match reality that well.

The airplane records a lot of data that might be overwritten if it's allowed to continue flying. You need to secure it all before that can happen.
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Yeah. I know what a CVR is, and why you want to preserve data. And I figure management will be really interested in talking to the crew.
 
Atypical scenario as the taxi distance from gate (Airside 2) to end of 17R is unusually short, but should have routine for SWA flights.

Assume SWA was given an H2/17R takeoff clearance as was prior JBU flight.

17R was being used for departures and 17L for arrivals so there should have been no pressure for an immediate takeoff.

Flight was continued with a 3-hr delay on another SWA aircraft. Incident aircraft departed about 4 pm for Grand Rapids and ended up at BWI by end of day.
 
Kyle N said:
7 posts in and no Harrison Ford jokes :( you let me down POA
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On 74Gear's video there is a comment (not by Mr. Ford): "I flew the Millennium Falcon, I'll land where I want."

OTOH, If you name an airport for a cowboy famous for doin' things his way . . ..
 
Tarheelpilot said:
It’s ok. Probably some guys south west hired from flexjet working the flight.
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An acquaintance of mine works for Flexjet. If arrogance is required in order to be hired by them ... he is well qualified (I speak not of them all, at all). ;)
 
Tools said:
delta LANDED a 767 on one in ATLANTA!!
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Not that it makes it right, but accidentally landing on a taxiway makes more sense than taking off on one, especially in the right lighting and visibility conditions. You’re coming in a lot faster and the markings, lights, and signs are a lot farther away. How this crew missed all of that from a few dozen yards away, while going only 20-30 knots is beyond me. Wonder if they’re going to chalk it up to the sun being in their face while they were heading east, like the Flexjet crew at MDW.
 
more of an excuse than a defense, but ... there are two parallel taxiways next to rwy 17R/35L: taxiway G and H. we are normally accustomed to just having one. so i can imagine if they just crossed G and then started turning onto H thinking it was the runway. i hate when pilots make mistakes...

Screenshot 2025-03-21 at 12.15.18 PM.png
 
Rene said:
Gee, I wonder what investigating the airplane might reveal?
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AV8R_87 said:
The airplane records a lot of data that might be overwritten if it's allowed to continue flying. You need to secure it all before that can happen.
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Rene said:
Yeah. I know what a CVR is, and why you want to preserve data.
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So you asked a question that you already knew the answer to?

Or you don't know how a CVR works?
 
donjohnston said:
So you asked a question that you already knew the answer to?
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I guess that means that I'm qualified for law school!

rhe·tor·i·cal ques·tion (Oxford)

noun

  1. a question asked in order to create a dramatic effect or to make a point rather than to get an answer.
    "the presentation was characterized by impossibly long sentences and a succession of rhetorical questions"
 
Inattentive attitude by the crew ,they may have missed that signage question on their ATP written.
 
For those still scanning this thread for meaningful discussion of the incident in the OP, I strongly encourage use of the 'ignore user' option. The 'report post' option is also available if needed.

Nauga,
whose angels want to wear his red shoes
 
I can maybe see landing on a parallel taxiway, especially at night or in poor visibility where markings and lighting could be obscured or confusing.

But departing a taxiway in good daytime conditions? There should have been so many red flags for the crew. Neither of them noticed the lack of runway markings or anything?
 
I have to agree. Harrison Ford crack should be no lower than third on the "misuse of a taxiway checklist"
You guys are getting rusty.
Kyle N said:
7 posts in and no Harrison Ford jokes :( you let me down POA
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Rene said:
I guess that means that I'm qualified for law school!

rhe·tor·i·cal ques·tion (Oxford)

noun

  1. a question asked in order to create a dramatic effect or to make a point rather than to get an answer.
    "the presentation was characterized by impossibly long sentences and a succession of rhetorical questions"
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Got it. You're a drama queen. Good to know.
 
midwestpa24 said:
I can maybe see landing on a parallel taxiway, especially at night or in poor visibility where markings and lighting could be obscured or confusing.

But departing a taxiway in good daytime conditions? There should have been so many red flags for the crew. Neither of them noticed the lack of runway markings or anything?
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Sun (mentioned in post #22) was 25 elevation, 105 azimuth at the time of the incident; i.e., less than optimal lighting when looking east. However, numerous other aircraft, including SWA before and after incident, managed to get their aircraft lined up for an H2/17R departure. Hopefully with incident aircraft removed from service for several hours, CVR will be available.
 
nauga said:
For those still scanning this thread for meaningful discussion of the incident in the OP, I strongly encourage use of the 'ignore user' option. The 'report post' option is also available if needed.

Nauga,
whose angels want to wear his red shoes
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Let me guess: The troll who pretends to be a teenaged student pilot but is a grizzled expert on all things aviation and cultural?
 
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