In 2022, at Orlando International Airport, the pilots of a Boeing 737 accidentally began to take off from a taxiway, prompting an air traffic controller to intervene. Taxiways are designed for plane movements between gates and runways, not for takeoffs or landings. Southwest Airlines Flight 3278 was preparing to depart for Albany, New York, but instead of using the assigned runway, it started accelerating on a parallel taxiway. The controller urgently instructed the pilots to stop, preventing a potentially dangerous situation.
The airline acknowledged that the crew mistook the taxiway for the runway and is cooperating with investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to determine the circumstances. Despite reaching a speed of 70 knots (approximately 80 mph) on the taxiway, the pilots managed to halt the plane safely. No other aircraft were involved, and the passengers were later flown to their destination on another aircraft.
This incident follows a string of recent aviation mishaps, underscoring the importance of vigilance and adherence to safety protocols. The NTSB recently reported on various incidents, including a fatal crash in Alaska and a dramatic landing in Toronto, emphasizing the critical need for stringent safety measures in air travel.
