Portland, Maine – The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into an incident at the Portland International Jetport involving Southwest Airlines Flight 4805 departing from a closed runway. The flight to Baltimore took off from a temporarily closed runway after an airport vehicle had just vacated the area before takeoff.
According to the FAA, air traffic control repeatedly warned the pilot about the presence of a vehicle on the closed runway as the plane was preparing to depart. Despite this, the Southwest Airlines flight proceeded with the takeoff. The Portland tower controllers were unable to establish contact with the flight during takeoff and after it had left the airport.
The Jetport management released a statement expressing gratitude for the airport staff’s swift response in ensuring the safety of the departing aircraft by promptly removing the airport vehicle from the closed runway. The incident occurred just minutes before the runway was scheduled to reopen for regular morning operations.
Since April 22, the primary east/west runway at the Jetport has been undergoing maintenance work, resulting in its closure between 10:30 p.m. and 5:45 a.m. Flights have been redirected to use the north/south runway during these times to accommodate the ongoing construction activities.
Southwest Airlines has acknowledged the incident and stated that they are cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA to investigate the circumstances surrounding the early morning departure of Flight 4805 from the Portland International Jetport. The airline ensured that the aircraft continued its journey safely to its destination following the departure.