A Southwest Airlines flight mistakenly attempted to take off from a taxiway instead of a runway at Orlando International Airport on Thursday before being stopped.
According to the airline, Southwest Flight 3278, scheduled from Orlando to Albany, came to a safe stop on the taxiway after the crew misidentified it as the nearby runway.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is investigating the incident, confirmed that the taxiway runs parallel to the intended runway. “An air traffic controller at Orlando International Airport canceled the takeoff clearance for Southwest Airlines Flight 3278 around 9:30 a.m. local time on Thursday, March 20, after the aircraft began its takeoff roll on a taxiway,” the FAA stated.
Southwest Airlines assured that passengers were rebooked on another aircraft to Albany, New York, with no injuries reported. “Southwest is engaged with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and FAA to determine the circumstances of the event,” the airline stated. “The safety of our customers and employees remains our top priority.”
