Southwest Plane Nearly Crashes After Rogue Plane Suddenly Appears in Its Path (Video)

A Southwest Airlines jet was accelerating past 100 miles per hour. It was seconds from liftoff when a rogue aircraft suddenly rolled directly into its runway. This triggered a frantic, profanity-laced warning from air traffic control. It forced the pilots into a life-or-death stop.

The near-crash unfolded at 1:40 p.m. Tuesday, when Southwest Flight 4996 began its takeoff roll at San Antonio International Airport. Investigators reported that a Pilatus PC-12 turboprop was operating separately. It made a “wrong turn” and unknowingly taxied straight into the departure path of the speeding 737.

San Antonio ATC: “SH*T! CANCEL TAKE OFF CLEARANCE”

A Pilatus PC-12 entered runway 22 at San Antonio International Airport yesterday as a Southwest Boeing 737 SWA 4996 was cleared for takeoff. The 737 was able to stop on the runway and avoid a collision with the PC-12.

Audio via… pic.twitter.com/dQCuZwWc0D

— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) January 29, 2026

“Cancel takeoff clearance! Cancel takeoff!” the controller shouted, an instant before dropping an expletive. The audio, captured by LiveATC, revealed a tone of raw panic rarely heard over U.S. runways. Other flights nearby were immediately ordered to divert or circle to avoid a cascading disaster.

The Southwest jet was already traveling 103 mph, a speed at which pilots typically commit to takeoff. Aborting at that point requires split-second judgment and razor-precision. Aviation experts say the crew likely had only a moment to react.

“A few more seconds and it could have been a mass-fatality event,” a former NTSB investigator said. They told us this after reviewing the audio. “This wasn’t close. This was too close.”

The FAA confirmed the PC-12 pilot mistakenly crossed onto the active runway, creating what it labeled a serious “runway incursion.” A full federal investigation is underway, including interviews with both flight crews and a review of surveillance footage.

Passengers onboard the Southwest aircraft later described a violent deceleration. One traveler told a local station, “The engines were roaring. Suddenly, it felt like the plane was slamming on the brakes. People gasped. Nobody knew what was happening.”

Southwest said the flight “safely discontinued” its takeoff and eventually departed for Dallas without further incident. Neither airline nor federal officials had provided additional details on the PC-12 pilot by press time. Pilatus, the Swiss manufacturer of the aircraft, did not respond to requests for comment.

The terrifying near-collision comes as Southwest makes sweeping changes to its identity. This week the carrier officially ended its decades-old open-seating scramble. It is now rolling out assigned seats on all flights. This is a major shift the airline says reflects “clear passenger preference.”

But Tuesday’s event is now part of a troubling pattern plaguing America’s runways. Runway incursions have surged in recent years. These incidents are often caused by pilot error or communication breakdowns. This trend has prompted concerns from safety analysts and lawmakers.

“In aviation, you don’t get warning shots,” the former investigator added. “You get seconds. And if you waste them, you lose everything.”

FAA officials say additional findings will be released once the investigation is complete.