Chicago, IL – February 25, 2025 – A potential catastrophe was narrowly avoided at Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) when a Flexjet Bombardier Challenger 350 (N560FX) crossed an active runway without authorization, forcing a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 (N8517F) to abort its landing at the last moment. The FAA has launched an investigation into the near miss, which could have ended in disaster.
Incident Details
Southwest Airlines Flight WN2504, inbound from Omaha, was on final approach for Runway 31C when Flexjet Flight LXJ560, departing for Knoxville, was instructed by Air Traffic Control (ATC) to hold short of the runway. However, the Flexjet aircraft ignored the instruction and taxied across the active runway without clearance, just as the Southwest 737 was mere feet above the ground.
Realizing the imminent danger, the Southwest pilots executed a go-around maneuver, avoiding what could have been a catastrophic mid-air collision. The aircraft circled back and landed safely at 9:10 AM local time.
FAA officials confirmed they are investigating the incident, stating:
“The crew of Southwest Airlines Flight 2504 initiated a go-around when a business jet entered the runway without authorization at Chicago Midway Airport.”
ATC communications and cockpit voice recordings will be reviewed to determine how the Flexjet aircraft failed to comply with critical safety instructions.
Flexjet and Its Founder: A History in Aviation
Flexjet, a major provider of fractional private jet ownership, was founded by Kenn Ricci, a longtime aviation industry player. Ricci’s aviation credentials run deep—he was the personal pilot for Bill Clinton during his first U.S. presidential campaign. Over the years, Ricci has expanded Flexjet into one of the most recognizable names in private aviation.
However, Flexjet’s operational culture is now under scrutiny following this serious runway incursion at Chicago Midway.
Flexjet’s DEI Hiring Practices in Focus
Flexjet has publicly emphasized its commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), actively promoting hiring initiatives focused on diversity rather than solely on merit and experience.
Concerns arise when a company prioritizes DEI-based hiring over selecting the most qualified and experienced candidates for safety-sensitive roles. The runway incursion at Chicago Midway Airport raises questions about whether Flexjet’s hiring practices have compromised operational discipline, leading to life-threatening mistakes.
Aviation Safety: A Growing Concern
The near miss at Midway is the latest in a string of alarming aviation incidents across both commercial and private aviation. Just a week prior, a Delta Airlines regional flight operated by Endeavor Air crashed and flipped on a runway in Toronto. Before the crash, social media posts from the airline highlighted its focus on diversity, boasting about being a “woman-run” company and offering “unmanned aircraft.”
With two high-profile incidents occurring in such a short time frame, safety concerns are being raised about whether corporate DEI initiatives in aviation are being prioritized over stringent pilot training, operational expertise, and strict adherence to safety protocols.
Final Thoughts
While disaster was narrowly avoided at Chicago Midway Airport, the Flexjet runway incursion raises serious concerns about pilot training, decision-making, and operational priorities.
With the FAA investigation underway, questions remain about whether Flexjet’s hiring practices, which emphasize diversity-focused recruitment over purely merit-based selection, played a role in the critical breakdown in communication and compliance with ATC instructions.
As the aviation community awaits further details, one thing is clear—in an industry where lives are on the line, safety must come first.
For now, this remains a developing story, and further updates will follow as more details emerge.