Southwest Airlines flight creates chaos by taking off from closed runway

Airport employees in Portland, Maine, had a close call when a Southwest Airlines jet took off from a closed runway on June 25. Air traffic control recordings revealed that controllers and pilots repeatedly warned the crew of Southwest 4805 about the closure. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are now investigating the incident, with Southwest cooperating with regulators. The tower controller mentioned that the runway is closed overnight and informed the crew about a vehicle on the runway before takeoff. Communication between the Southwest crew and Boston air traffic controllers indicated that the plane departed three minutes before the runway reopened, despite the crew's belief that it was open. The FAA confirmed the runway was closed at the time, with the airport vehicle clearing the runway before the plane's takeoff. The potential collision risk with the runway crew remains unclear, but the tower controller acknowledged the need for the workers to exit due to the takeoff. Southwest stated that the flight proceeded safely to its destination and deferred further inquiries to the NTSB, which plans to release a preliminary report on the incident next month. The incident highlights the importance of adherence to air traffic control instructions and runway status information for safe operations at airports. Southwest Airlines' departure from the closed runway raises concerns about communication protocols and operational procedures within the aviation industry. As investigations continue, the focus is on determining the factors that led to the runway mishap and ensuring similar incidents are prevented in the future. The incident serves as a reminder of the critical role of coordination between air traffic control, pilots, and airport personnel to maintain aviation safety standards.