"Cancel Takeoff Clearance" Southwest Pilots Abort High Speed Takeoff to Avoid San Antonio Runway Collision

TONIO – Federal authorities have launched a high-priority investigation into a "severe" runway incursion at San Antonio International Airport (SAT) that occurred on the afternoon of January 27, 2026. A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 (B38M) was forced to perform an emergency high-speed rejected takeoff after a private turboprop mistakenly crossed into its path.

The incident, which took place at approximately 1:40 p.m. local time, involved Southwest Flight 4996 bound for Dallas Love Field (DAL). The aircraft had already accelerated to roughly 103 mph (90 knots) when an air traffic controller spotted a private Pilatus PC-12 entering Runway 22 without authorization.

"Cancel Takeoff Clearance" – Eight Seconds from Disaster

Audio from the San Antonio tower captures the visceral urgency of the moment the controller realised the two aircraft were on a collision course. After initially clearing Southwest 4996 for departure, the controller’s tone shifted from routine to frantic as the PC-12 began its unauthorised turn.

“Oh s*it, uh, cancel takeoff clearance, cancel takeoff clearance, Southwest,” the controller transmitted over the emergency frequency.

The flight crew of the B38M responded instantly, engaging maximum braking and deploying thrust reversers to bring the 150,000-pound jet to a halt. According to San Antonio Airport System Director Jesus Saenz, the two aircraft came within approximately 2,000 feet of each other, a distance aviation experts describe as a "razor-thin margin" at those speeds.

“I’m not going to say that’s normal, because it’s not,” Saenz stated during a briefing. “But we work on being safe, hold an investigation and hold people accountable if we have to.”

Maintenance and Infrastructure

Industry analysts point to a confluence of factors that may have contributed to the close call. At the time of the incident, San Antonio’s Runway 13R/ 31L was closed for a two-month maintenance project, forcing a higher volume of commercial and general aviation traffic onto Runway 4/ 22.

Furthermore, the SAT tower currently lacks ground radar (Surface Movement Guidance and Control System), meaning controllers rely primarily on visual confirmation and pilot position reports, a limitation that has become a focal point of recent NTSB safety recommendations following a string of near-misses across the U.S. national airspace.

Operational Impact

Following the high-speed abort, Flight 4996 vacated the runway to allow for a mandatory brake cooling period. After a thorough inspection by maintenance crews to ensure no structural damage or tyre fatigue occurred during the RTO, the aircraft was cleared to resume its journey.

Note: The flight originally attempted departure at 1:40 PM; the table reflects the actual departure following the safety stand-down.

Investigation and Safety Oversight

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are currently reviewing flight data recorders and radar tapes. A primary focus of the probe is the pilot of the Pilatus PC-12, who reportedly missed a taxiway turn before entering the active runway.

Southwest Airlines released a brief statement following the event:

“The flight safely discontinued its takeoff roll... and later departed for Dallas without further interruption.”