Southwest flight takeoff canceled after crew mistook Orlando taxiway for runway

A Southwest Airlines flight at Orlando International Airport aborted takeoff on Thursday after mistakenly beginning its departure on a taxiway instead of the designated runway. This incident is the latest in a series of aviation safety concerns in the U.S.

At around 9:30 a.m. ET, an air traffic controller canceled the takeoff clearance for Southwest Flight 3278 after noticing the aircraft had started its takeoff roll on a taxiway running parallel to the runway, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Taxiways are used for aircraft movement between terminals and runways, not for takeoff.

Southwest Airlines reported that the Boeing 737-800 stopped safely, returned to the gate, and that no injuries occurred. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA have both launched investigations into the incident. Southwest also stated it is working with the FAA to understand what led to the error and has since rebooked passengers on another flight.

This event follows a December FAA safety review of Southwest Airlines, prompted by previous incidents, including a flight in July that flew at dangerously low altitude over Tampa Bay and another in April that came within 400 feet (122 meters) of the ocean near Hawaii.

On Wednesday, the FAA announced plans to install enhanced safety technology at 74 U.S. airports by 2026 to help detect runway incursions. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also revealed upcoming plans to modernize the country’s air traffic control system, replacing outdated technology.

Concerns over U.S. aviation safety have grown following the January 29 fatal collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet near Reagan Washington National Airport, which resulted in 67 deaths.

The FAA has been conducting an audit of runway incursion risks at the 45 busiest U.S. airports since October. Over the past two years, a series of near-miss incidents has highlighted ongoing issues, particularly the strain on understaffed air traffic control operations. A shortage of controllers has caused delays and forced many to work mandatory overtime and six-day weeks to cover shifts, exacerbating safety concerns.