Southwest Flight Halted After Almost Taking Off From Taxiway Instead of Runway in Florida

A Southwest Airlines flight almost took off from a taxiway at Orlando International Airport on Thursday, March 20, according to news releases from Southwest Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Flight 3278 attempted to depart at Orlando International Airport at 9:30 a.m. for Albany, N.Y., when the crew “mistook the surface for the nearby runway,” Southwest said.

The FAA confirmed that at the time, “[Flight 3278’s] aircraft began its takeoff roll on a taxiway,” but then an air traffic controller at Orlando International Airport “canceled the takeoff clearance.”

Taxiways are used to get from gates and hangars to runways. The taxiway runs parallel to the runway and is not designed for takeoffs. 

No injuries were reported, and no other aircraft were involved. Southwest confirmed that the passengers were taken to a separate aircraft, which then took them to Albany.

“Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees,” Southwest said in the Thursday statement.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident. 

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Representatives for Southwest and the NTSB did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on Thursday.