Air Traffic Control Intervenes as 737 Pilots Attempt Dangerous Taxiway Takeoff | CNN

On Thursday, a flight incident at Orlando International Airport raised concerns about aviation safety. The pilots of a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 nearly took off from a taxiway instead of the designated runway, prompting urgent instruction from air traffic control to halt their takeoff.

Taxiways are the routes planes use to move between gates and runways. They are not meant for takeoffs or landings. Southwest Flight 3278 was cleared to take off for Albany, New York, but instead started accelerating on a parallel taxiway. Air traffic control quickly realized the mistake and intervened.

“3278 stop, 3278 stop. Stop Southwest 3278, stop!” directed the controller, emphasizing that the plane was on the wrong path. The pilots promptly hit the brakes, responding, “Southwest 3278, yes, sir. We stopped.”

According to data from FlightRadar24, the aircraft reached about 70 knots (approximately 80 mph) on the taxiway. The norm for taxiway speed is around 35 mph. For takeoff, a Boeing 737 usually needs to reach about 150 mph. Luckily, the plane stopped without any problems, and the passengers were later flown to Albany on a different aircraft.

Southwest Airlines acknowledged the confusion, explaining that the crew mistakenly identified the taxiway as the runway. The airline is working with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to investigate the cause of this mix-up.

This incident is part of a worrying trend in aviation. Recent months have seen an uptick in unsafe situations, including near misses and accidents. For context, in February, a Cessna aircraft tragically crashed in Alaska, killing all ten on board. The NTSB later revealed that the plane had been overloaded before takeoff.

Public reaction to these safety lapses is increasingly critical. On social media, users expressed fears over airline safety, with many calling for stricter regulations and better training for pilots. In fact, a recent survey indicated that 70% of travelers feel less safe flying now compared to a few years ago.

These unsettling trends promote ongoing scrutiny of aviation practices. Experts stress that the industry needs to enhance safety protocols to prevent future errors. As air travel continues to rebound post-pandemic, maintaining public trust in airline safety is crucial.

For more insights on air safety and regulations, check out the FAA for their latest guidelines and updates.

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