A terrifying near-miss at Chicago Midway Airport is making headlines, and for good reason. Newly released air traffic control audio confirms that the pilot of a private Flexjet plane was explicitly warned multiple times to hold short of the runway, yet failed to comply—nearly leading to a catastrophic collision with a Southwest Airlines flight.
A Close Call Caught on Audio
The chilling audio, obtained by FOX 32 Chicago, reveals air traffic controllers urgently directing Flexjet Flight 560 to stop short of the runway where Southwest Flight 2504 was making its final approach.
“560, hold right there, sir. Don’t move. Hold position 560,” one controller can be heard saying. Despite this clear directive, the private jet continued onto the runway, forcing the Southwest pilot to initiate a last-second go-around.
Passengers on board the Southwest flight described the moment as confusing yet well-handled by the crew. One passenger wrote, “As we were landing and we’re past the border wall by Midway’s runways, everyone was getting ready for a standard landing. Then suddenly, we hear the thrust of the engines and we’re back in the air. Everyone was confused, but the pilot came on to say what happened. First-rate job of handling the situation.”
Southwest’s Quick Thinking Prevents Disaster
According to an FAA statement, the Southwest Airlines crew performed a precautionary go-around to avoid a potential collision. The Boeing 737 successfully landed a short time later without further incident.
Southwest Airlines also issued a statement affirming that the pilots followed all safety procedures and acted appropriately given the situation. “Southwest Airlines Flight 2504 landed safely at Chicago Midway Airport after the crew performed a precautionary go-around to avoid a possible conflict with another aircraft that entered the runway.”
While Southwest and the FAA acted swiftly, the same cannot be said for the Flexjet pilot. The air traffic control recording paints a clear picture: controllers did their job, Southwest’s crew did their job, but the private jet pilot’s failure to follow direct orders created an unnecessary and dangerous situation.
FAA and NTSB Investigate Flexjet’s Actions
Both the FAA and NTSB have launched investigations into why the Flexjet pilot proceeded onto the runway against clear instructions. Flexjet responded with a statement claiming, “We are aware of the occurrence today in Chicago. Flexjet adheres to the highest safety standards, and we are conducting a thorough investigation. Any action to rectify and ensure the highest safety standards will be taken.”
That response may not be enough. The question remains: why did the Flexjet pilot fail to obey the repeated warnings?
The Media’s Attempt to Shift the Narrative
Despite the clear evidence pointing to pilot error, some media outlets have attempted to link this incident to broader discussions about FAA budget cuts, aviation staffing, and even Trump-era policies. However, there is zero indication that any of those factors played a role in this near-disaster.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy quickly dismissed speculation that budget cuts impacted critical safety positions, stating, “This incident had nothing to do with FAA resources or staffing. The protocols were in place, and the system worked.”
The real issue here is not bureaucratic funding—it is a pilot disregarding direct orders from air traffic control. That fact should be the focus, rather than political spin that attempts to link this to unrelated issues.
Final Thoughts
This was a preventable incident. The FAA and NTSB will determine what disciplinary actions, if any, should be taken against Flexjet and its pilot. What is clear is that air traffic controllers gave multiple warnings, Southwest Airlines pilots responded appropriately, and yet, a reckless decision by one pilot almost turned this into a deadly tragedy.
As this investigation unfolds, the media should stick to the facts rather than injecting political narratives where they don’t belong. The public deserves to know what really happened—without unnecessary distractions or agenda-driven speculation.
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JIMMY
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h/t: Steadfast and Loyal
The pilot of that private jet should be ‘grounded’ permanently! What a numb nut. Do I see another possible DEI hire for whatever outfit runs that private jet? Looked just like some whack attempting to beat a train across the railroad crossing!