On March 20, 2025, a significant incident occurred at Orlando International Airport (MCO) when a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 began its takeoff roll on a taxiway instead of the designated runway. The flight, which was scheduled to travel to Albany, New York (ALB), was quickly aborted, and all 158 people on board—152 passengers and six crew members—returned safely to the apron without injury.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has concluded that pilot error was the primary cause of this near-miss incident. Initial investigations revealed that the crew mistakenly believed they were on the runway, having been cleared for takeoff by air traffic control. However, they failed to navigate properly to the designated runway before initiating the takeoff procedures.
Details of the Incident
During the incident, air traffic controllers observed the aircraft beginning its takeoff from the taxiway, which runs parallel to the runway. Recognizing the potential danger, they promptly canceled the takeoff clearance, and the pilots successfully rejected the takeoff. The swift response by air traffic control helped avert what could have been a catastrophic accident, especially given the high volume of traffic at MCO during the busy spring break season.
According to the final report released by the NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on December 11, the captain’s failure to recognize the aircraft’s actual location contributed significantly to the incident. A key excerpt from the report stated, “The captain’s failure to recognize that the airplane’s location did not agree with the assigned departure runway… and continuation error when he missed several cues that would have informed him that he was not on the assigned departure runway.”
Investigation Insights
The investigation involved an interview with the captain, who explained his focus on centering the aircraft and completing pre-takeoff checklist items. He recounted that the crew had turned right onto taxiway H2 instead of proceeding to runway 17R after receiving takeoff clearance. Although he noted seeing the sign for runway 17R, he did not recognize the surface as a taxiway rather than an active runway.
The captain indicated that his primary visual references included lighting conditions and the magnetic course, along with a moving map display. He acknowledged that he did not verify the painted numbers on the runway due to visibility constraints from the cockpit.
The NTSB’s findings highlighted that the captain did not adhere to Southwest Airlines’ standard operating procedures (SOP). These procedures require pilots to use various references to confirm that the aircraft is positioned correctly for takeoff. Among the expected references are aircraft heading indicators, navigation displays, runway signage, and runway lighting.
The investigation also pointed to distractions within the cockpit. The first officer was reportedly focused on confirming checklist items at the captain’s request, which diverged from the airline’s SOP and contributed to the oversight.
This incident underscores the importance of strict adherence to operational procedures in aviation. While the immediate outcome was safe, the NTSB’s findings serve as a reminder of the critical need for constant vigilance and discipline in cockpit operations. As the aviation industry continues to recover from the disruptions caused by the pandemic, ensuring such incidents do not recur will be essential for maintaining passenger safety and confidence.
