Video captured when a Southwest Airlines flight landing at Midway Airport in Chicago had to perform a go-around maneuver to avoid a collision with a jet that unexpectedly entered their runway.

The Flight

Passengers aboard Southwest Airlines flight 2504 from Omaha to Chicago probably experienced some tense moments as the flight tried to land at Midway Airport just after 9:00 AM this morning.

As a frequent flyer into Chicago's Midway Airport, I can tell you landings and takeoffs can be a little nerve-wracking for the uninitiated. On departure, planes tend to descend skyward quickly, and upon landing, planes tend to come in hard. I wouldn't say it's scary; it's a little different from many airports. That said, the views of Chicago, especially the neighborhood around the airport, are fantastic.

So I suspect passengers expecting that jolt when the tires hit the runway might have been slightly surprised and concerned as the flight pointed skyward after almost landing. Take a look at the video NBC 5 Chicago put on YouTube.

What Is A "Go-Around?"

According to Simple Flying, the maneuver the Flight Crew of SWA 2504 executed is called a go-around. In the simplest terms, a go-around is an aborted landing when the pilot or flight crew decides to reject the touchdown on the final approach.

Go-arounds are often performed on a cautionary basis, but occasionally, like today, they're executed to avert disaster.

Aside from a runway incursion/obstruction, other things that can cause a go-around include weather conditions, alignment issues with the runway, congestion, or technical problems.

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Air Traffic Control Audio

If you have ever watched any movies that portray air traffic controllers, they're always portrayed as steady with a calm and controlling voice. The Air Traffic Control audio between Southwest 2504, the plane that caused the runway incursion, and air traffic control was as calm and collected as controllers would be portrayed in most movies. (I think of the original disaster movie "Airport.") You can hear the ATC communication here; you'll want to forward it about 18 minutes into the recording.

This video also contains Air Traffic Control Audio.

The Aftermath

Flight Aware said the flight arrived on time at Gate B14, even with the go-around. According to NBC 5 Chicago, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Security Board are both investigating the incident.

NBC 5 Chicago says audio from air traffic controllers appeared to indicate the jet on the ground was told to "hold short" of the runway to allow the Southwest Flight to land. However, there seemed to be confusion as the controller repeated the instructions.

While I'd rather neither plane find itself in a perilous situation, the video and audio are a testament to how skilled pilots and air traffic controllers must be to keep us safe while traveling.