The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating an incident where a Southwest Airlines flight took off from a closed runway at Portland International Jetport. The flight, bound for Baltimore, departed from a temporarily closed runway early in the morning. Despite multiple warnings from air traffic control about the closed runway, the plane began its takeoff roll. The airport vehicle left the runway just before the plane took off, and communication with the flight was lost during and after departure.
The Portland tower controllers were unable to make contact with the flight during takeoff, as it departed about two minutes before the runway was scheduled to open for the morning. The Jetport released a statement expressing gratitude that the airport staff quickly identified the aircraft’s presence on the closed runway and removed the airport vehicle from the area. The primary east/west runway at the Jetport has been closed for overnight construction work, forcing flights to use the north/south runway during those hours. Southwest Airlines issued a statement acknowledging the incident and stated that the flight continued safely to its destination after departure.
The incident involving Southwest Airlines Flight 4805 has raised concerns about the safety protocols and communication procedures at the Portland International Jetport. The FAA is working to understand the circumstances that led to the flight taking off from a closed runway, despite warnings from air traffic control. The investigation will likely focus on improving coordination between airport staff, air traffic controllers, and airline personnel to prevent similar incidents in the future. Airlines and airports will need to review and enhance their procedures to ensure the safety of passengers and crew during all stages of flight operations.