(5MinNewsBreak.com) – What was supposed to be a typical flight nearly resulted in tragedy at Chicago’s Midway Airport when a private jet cut off a passenger plane’s landing.
Watch the video down below.
Specifically, a Southwest Airlines flight narrowly avoided colliding with a rogue private jet that ignored air traffic control warnings.
With just 2,050 feet separating both planes from disaster, the heroic actions of a Southwest pilot saved countless American lives.
The Southwest flight WN2504 from Omaha was approaching for landing at Chicago’s Midway Airport.
Despite clear instructions from air traffic control to hold position, a FlexJet business jet inexplicably taxied onto the active runway directly in the path of the descending Southwest aircraft.
The Southwest pilot was forced to execute an emergency “go-around” maneuver, quickly speeding up and climbing away from what would have been a catastrophic collision.
“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,” explained aviation expert Dr. Ryan Phillips.
Air traffic recordings reveal multiple warnings were issued to the FlexJet pilot, who apparently disregarded these critical safety instructions, putting hundreds of lives at risk.
Most passengers aboard the Southwest flight had no idea how close they came to disaster, believing the aborted landing was a routine procedure.
It was only after landing safely that the truth emerged – they had been just seconds from a potential tragedy.
“If I could hug the pilot right now, I probably would,” said passenger Caley Maszk, expressing gratitude for the split-second decision that saved her life.
This near-disaster highlights the growing problem of runway incursions at major American airports, with data showing approximately one close call per year at Midway alone.
The Federal Aviation Administration is now investigating the incident while conducting safety audits at 45 airports, including Midway.
“Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees,” a Southwest Airlines spokesperson stated after the incident.
Meanwhile, FlexJet claimed they “adhere to the highest safety standards” and are conducting their own investigation.
Disturbing video footage shows just how close the planes came to colliding, raising serious questions about air traffic control procedures and pilot compliance with safety instructions.
The National Transportation Safety Board has also launched an investigation into what appears to be a clear case of pilot error.
This incident follows a troubling pattern of aviation safety concerns, including recent deadly crashes near Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.
Many travelers are rightfully concerned about the state of America’s air travel system, which seems increasingly prone to dangerous lapses and near-misses.
Copyright 2025, 5MinNewsBreak.com
