Watch: Southwest plane pulls up just in time as another jet crosses Chicago runway

A terrifying near-miss at

Chicago Midway Airport

on Tuesday morning saw a

Southwest Airlines

plane come within moments of disaster, forced to abort landing at the last second as a private jet rolled across its path without authorization.
"Abort! abort!" — Seconds to spare
Southwest Flight 2504

, a Boeing 737 inbound from Omaha, Nebraska, was mere feet from touching down when the private Challenger 350 suddenly moved onto the runway, creating a potentially catastrophic scenario.
Shocking footage captured the moment the Southwest pilots had to react instantly—yanking the plane back into the air just before impact. Passengers onboard felt the engines surge as the aircraft climbed sharply to avoid a deadly crash.

“The crew followed safety procedures, and the flight landed without incident,” Southwest Airlines later confirmed, though the dramatic moment left many shaken.

FAA investigates 'runway incursion'
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the unauthorized movement of the private jet, which departed for Knoxville, Tennessee, shortly after the incident. Officials are examining whether pilot error, miscommunication, or an

air traffic control oversight

led to the close call.
While no injuries were reported, aviation experts say the event underscores growing concerns about runway safety and near-collisions at major airports.
String of aviation disasters raises alarm
This near-disaster comes amid a wave of

aviation tragedies

making headlines in recent weeks:

As federal investigators piece together what went wrong in Chicago, one thing is clear—the margin for error in the skies is razor-thin.