Controller Canceled Takeoff Clearance As Aircraft Began to Roll

A Southwest B737-8 came to a screeching halt at Orlando International Airport after the air traffic controller informed pilots that the runway they were beginning to take off from was actually a taxiway. The plane and crew were then tapped out and replaced.

Southwest Flight 3278, operated on a Boeing 737-800, was scheduled to depart from Orlando International Airport (MCO) at 9:25 am on March 20. Passengers boarded and the aircraft pushed back without a hitch, earning the flight an on-time takeoff clearance from air traffic controllers.

The flight crew had already begun their takeoff roll when ATC shut them down, canceling their takeoff clearance and repeating “3278, stop.” As the pilots likely quickly realized, they attempted to depart from Taxiway H instead of the parallel Runway 17R/35L.

Luckily, the jet hadn’t gotten far into its roll and could abort the takeoff on the ground. The flight returned to its gate and swapped out its crew and aircraft for a fresh set. Though it was a relatively minor mistake with no injuries or damage, the flight ended up departing nearly four hours late. It touched down at Albany International Airport in New York at around 3:30 pm.

"The taxiway runs parallel to the runway. The flight was headed to Albany International Airport in New York. No other aircraft were involved. The FAA is investigating,” the agency said.

While it isn’t uncommon for taxiways to be mistaken for runways, these types of incidents typically occur during landing rather than takeoff. Between October 2016 and December 2022, the FAA reported 1,641 incorrect surface approach and landing events for an average of five per week. Departures, on the other hand, came in at 326 events.

Taxiways and runways can be difficult to distinguish, especially when multiple parallel taxiways are running alongside one runway. The incidents rarely occur in commercial aviation, however, with general aviation aircraft being involved in over 80 percent of incorrect surface operations.

"Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees," the airline stated after the recent event.

FMI: www.southwest.com