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| SOUTHWEST AIRLINES BOEING 737-8H4 N8548P (MSN 36968) |
Southwest Airlines Flight 3278 was cleared to take off on runway 17R at approximately 9.35 am at Orlando International Airport (MCO/KMCO), bound for Albany, New York (ALB/KALB), the FAA said in a statement. The plane, however, started to accelerate on a parallel taxiway instead, prompting an air traffic controller to cancel the takeoff clearance.
“3278 stop, 3278 stop. Stop Southwest 3278, stop!” air traffic control said from the tower, according to audio shared online. “Cancel takeoff clearance. You’re on taxiway Hotel Southwest 3278.”
Pilots then slammed the brakes to stop. “Southwest 3278, yes, sir. We have stopped,” the pilot replied.
“The crew mistook the surface for the nearby runway,” the airline said in a statement. Southwest is engaged with the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) and FAA to understand the circumstances of the event.
The aircraft’s top speed was 70 knots at the time, (or approximately 80 mph,) according to flight data tracker FlightRadar24. Airplanes typically travel AT about 35 mph on taxiways. A Boeing 737 would need to accelerate to about 150 mph for takeoff.
The plane was meant to be on Runway 17R but was on taxiway Hotel – which runs the same length and parallel to it.
The 737 stopped safely and no other aircraft were involved, Southwest said.
The airline later flew the passengers to Albany on a different plane, leaving almost 4 hours later, at 1.19 pm. (N8820Q MSN 65437)
Taxiways are used by planes to travel between gates and runways and are not intended for take offs or landings.
Aircraft Information
Airline: Southwest Airlines
Code: WN/SWA
Aircraft: Boeing 737-8H4
Registration: N8315C
Serial Number: 38811
Engines: 2 x CFMI CFM56-7B27E
First Flew: 06/07/2012
Age: 12.7 Years
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