Southwest Air Flight Nearly Collides With Smaller Plane in Latest Air Safety Incident

A Southwest Airlines flight had to abort its landing at Chicago Midway Airport after a business jet unexpectedly crossed the runway. This latest incident adds to growing concerns about aviation safety and the reliability of America’s air traffic control systems.

Key Facts:

A Southwest Airlines plane nearly collided with a business jet at Chicago Midway International Airport on Tuesday morning.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the business jet entered the runway without authorization, forcing Southwest Flight 2504 to abort its landing.
Surveillance footage shows the Southwest jet lifting off just as the smaller plane crossed the runway.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident.
This near-miss follows a string of recent aviation accidents, including a fatal midair collision near Washington, D.C., last month.

The Rest of The Story:

Southwest Flight 2504, which departed from Omaha, Nebraska, was preparing to land in Chicago when the crew noticed a business jet entering the runway.

Following protocol, the pilots immediately initiated a go-around to avoid a potential collision.

The aircraft then safely landed at Midway Airport at 9:10 a.m. local time.

This incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of aviation safety.

INCIDENT: Southwest #WN2504 (Boeing 737-800 N8517F) in near miss 1448UTC/0848CST today @ Chicago/Midway as FlexJet #LXJ560 (Challenger 350) crosses Runway 31C.

ATC Audio (skip to 18min): https://t.co/e6OValtv39

MDW webcam & links: https://t.co/GzjpoMXwhL

(c) webcam host pic.twitter.com/IHqoie0rt3

— Airport Webcams (@AirportWebcams) February 25, 2025

In recent weeks, multiple crashes and near-misses have raised alarms.

Last month, an American Airlines jet and a military helicopter collided midair, resulting in 67 deaths—the deadliest U.S. aviation accident in over two decades.

Other recent crashes include a Delta plane in Toronto, a passenger jet in Alaska, and a medical transport jet in Philadelphia.

Despite public concern, data from the NTSB indicates that aviation accidents are actually down this year compared to last year, with around 90 reported incidents so far versus 125 in the same period in 2024.

Commentary:

While officials investigate what went wrong at Midway, a much larger issue looms: America’s outdated air traffic control system.

This near-miss is just the latest example of a system struggling to keep up with modern aviation demands.

The United States still relies on radar-based air traffic control, a technology developed in the mid-20th century.

Many other countries have already transitioned to satellite-based navigation, which allows for more precise tracking and better communication between aircraft and control towers.

Yet, the U.S. has been slow to make the necessary upgrades.

Former President Donald Trump recognized the problem years ago and suggested that private sector innovation—possibly led by Elon Musk and his engineers—could help modernize air traffic control.

With Musk’s track record of revolutionizing space travel and electric vehicles, it’s worth considering whether a fresh approach is needed to prevent these near-misses from becoming full-blown disasters.

Congress and the FAA continue to push for reforms, but bureaucracy and union opposition have stalled meaningful progress.

Until the system is overhauled, passengers will continue to face unnecessary risks from preventable incidents like the one in Chicago.

How many more close calls will it take before decisive action is taken?

The Bottom Line:

The near-collision at Midway is another warning sign that America’s air traffic control system is long overdue for an upgrade.

While the crew’s quick response prevented a disaster, relying on outdated technology is a gamble that could eventually cost lives.

The question isn’t if, but when, a major tragedy will force real change.