A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 had to abort its takeoff at Orlando International Airport after the flight crew mistakenly attempted to depart from a taxiway instead of the designated runway. The incident occurred on March 20, 2025, at 9:30 AM local time. No injuries were reported.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that it is investigating the incident. According to the agency, air traffic control canceled the takeoff clearance after the aircraft began accelerating down the taxiway parallel to the runway. The FAA clarified that no other aircraft were involved in the event.
Southwest Airlines stated that flight 3278 “stopped safely” on the taxiway “after the crew mistook the surface for the nearby runway.” Following the incident, passengers were transferred to another aircraft, which completed the journey to Albany International Airport in New York.
The airline added that it is working closely with the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) “to understand the circumstances of the event.”
Previous Incident at Chicago Midway Airport
The Orlando event comes just days after the NTSB released a preliminary report on a separate incident at Chicago Midway International Airport. In that case, the pilots of a Flexjet business jet failed to recognize the distinction between the runway and taxiway. As a result, the aircraft crossed the path of a Southwest Boeing 737 that was on final approach.
The Southwest pilots executed a go-around maneuver and landed safely without further complications. Following the Orlando incident, the FAA and NTSB are reviewing the details to determine whether additional safety measures or procedural changes are needed.
While no one was harmed, the event has drawn attention to the importance of clear taxiway and runway markings, as well as the need for enhanced crew awareness during ground operations.
