A Southwest flight nearly took off from a taxiway on Thursday. The Boeing 737-800 – operating flight 3278 from Orlando, Florida to Albany, New York – “began its takeoff roll on a taxiway,” a Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson said.
According to the FAA, an air traffic controller halted the attempted takeoff. No other aircraft were involved.
Southwest told NBC News the crew “mistook the surface for the nearby runway.” The flight returned to the gate and departed roughly three hours later with a new aircraft and crew.
According to the FAA, a Southwest 737-800 “began its takeoff roll on a taxiway” this morning in Orlando.
Ground speed ADS-B data shows the aircraft reaching a top speed of nearly 70 knots on Taxiway H. https://t.co/x1vNl0zCoc pic.twitter.com/7QHn6YQYOQ
— Ryan Ewing (@FlyingHighRyan) March 20, 2025
ADS-B data from Flightradar24 shows the aircraft reached a top ground speed of nearly 70 knots on the taxiway. The flight departed around 9:30 a.m. local time, and visibility was clear.
The FAA spokesperson noted that the taxiway runs parallel to a runway. Thursday’s incident appears to have occurred on Taxiway H, which is adjacent to Runway 17R.
No injuries were reported. The FAA said it will investigate, and Southwest says it is “engaged with the NTSB and FAA to understand the circumstances of the event.”
