A Near Miss at Midway: What We Can Learn from Southwest Airlines Flight 2504’s Close Call

On February 25, 2025, passengers aboard Southwest Airlines Flight 2504, a Boeing 737-800, came shockingly close to disaster. As the plane was seconds from touching down at Chicago Midway Airport, Flexjet LXJ560, a Challenger 350, crossed the active runway directly in its path. In a dramatic move captured on video and shared widely on social media, the Southwest pilots executed a last-second go-around, preventing what could have been a catastrophic collision.

What Went Wrong?

According to air traffic control communications, the Flexjet crew had been instructed to hold short of the runway. However, they proceeded across it just as the Southwest jet was about to land. This misstep raises important questions: How did this happen, and what factors contributed to the confusion?

The Complexity of Midway Airport

Unlike many airports with only two parallel runways, Chicago Midway features three—an unusual layout that can be disorienting to pilots unfamiliar with the airport. Additionally, Midway’s runways are not uniform in width. The narrowest of the three may not have visually registered as an active runway to the Flexjet crew, leading them to treat it as a taxiway. This confusion likely contributed to their decision to cross both the narrow and the larger center runway—the very one on which Flight 2504 was about to land.

The Role of Airport Markings

Normally, taxiways are equipped with clear hold-short markings to prevent runway incursions. However, in this case, the Flexjet was taxiing on a crossing runway, which does not have the same hold-short indicators. This lack of visual reinforcement may have played a crucial role in the crew’s mistake.

The Bigger Picture: Aviation Safety Concerns

Senior aviation attorney Jamie Lebovitz highlights a growing concern: near misses at U.S. airports are becoming alarmingly frequent. While the U.S. air traffic control system is among the best in the world, incidents like this underscore the importance of continuous improvements in both pilot training and airport design to prevent future close calls.

As air travel continues to grow, so too must our commitment to safety. For passengers, pilots, and airport authorities alike, the lessons from Flight 2504’s close call are clear: attention to detail, clear communication, and a deep respect for aviation protocols are what keep the skies safe for all.

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