Swift pilot action averts disaster as private jet intrudes runway
Only the pilots' composure and swift reaction saved the passengers and crew of a Southwest Airlines plane from disaster. As the aircraft was approaching landing, a private jet intruded onto the runway. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident at Chicago Midway Airport.
On social media, a recording appeared showing how Southwest Flight 2504 was approaching landing at Midway Airport, then climbed back into the air to avoid a collision with the jet that unexpectedly found itself on the runway.
The FAA reported that the jet entered the runway without permission, forcing the Southwest crew to perform a "go-around" maneuver to avoid a collision.
The plane landed safely
After a preventive maneuver, Southwest Airlines confirmed that the flight landed safely at Midway Airport. "The crew followed safety procedures and the flight landed without incident," Southwest stated. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees."
The control tower records indicate that the aircraft was instructed to hold at the intersection while the Southwest flight attempted to land. A spokesperson for Flexjet, a luxury private jet service, confirmed that the company is aware of the incident involving one of its aircraft.
A spokesperson stated that Flexjet is committed to maintaining the highest safety standards and is conducting a comprehensive investigation. The company will take all necessary measures to address the situation and uphold its safety commitments.
A series of aviation disasters
This is the latest in a series of aviation incidents that have caused concern among travellers. On Saturday evening, a Delta plane en route to Australia had to return to Los Angeles due to smoke detected in the kitchen. A similar incident occurred on Monday when a Delta plane returned to Atlanta shortly after takeoff due to a report of "possible smoke" on board. Earlier this month, a Delta plane flipped over during landing at Toronto Airport, injuring 21 people.
Last month, there were two fatal aviation disasters. In a mid-air collision of a military helicopter with an American Airlines plane near Reagan National Airport in Washington, 67 people died. A few days later, a medical jet crashed near a shopping centre in Philadelphia. All six passengers and a civilian in a car were killed. An additional 24 people were injured.
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