Southwest Flight Aborts Takeoff to Avoid Collision with Plane in 'Wrong Turn'

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A Southwest Airlines flight had to abort its takeoff in order to avoid a potential collision with a smaller Pilatus PC-12 plane that made a wrong turn onto the Southwest flight's runway at San Antonio International Airport. The Southwest flight was traveling at 103 mph when air traffic control instructed the pilot to cancel the takeoff clearance. The Southwest flight later departed for Dallas without further incident.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the importance of proper runway procedures and air traffic control coordination to maintain aviation safety, especially at busy airports. Near-miss collisions on the runway can have catastrophic consequences, so quick action by air traffic control and pilots is critical to avoid potential disasters.

The details

According to the FAA, air traffic control 'cancelled the takeoff clearance' for Southwest Airlines Flight 4996 'because a Pilatus PC-12 pilot made a wrong turn onto the Southwest flight's runway.' The Southwest flight was reportedly traveling at 103 mph when it received the instructions to abort takeoff. In a recording of the air traffic control exchange, the controller can be heard exclaiming 'S--t! Cancel takeoff clearance!' before redirecting other flights to 'go around'.

• The incident occurred around 1:40 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026 at San Antonio International Airport.

What’s next

The FAA is currently investigating the event to determine the exact circumstances and any potential safety violations.