A Southwest Airlines flight narrowly avoided disaster at Chicago Midway Airport when it was forced to abort its landing after a private jet entered the runway without authorisation.
The incident occurred on Tuesday morning when Flight 2504 was moments from touchdown.
Dramatic footage shows the Boeing 737 pulling up sharply as a business jet crossed directly in its path.
The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the near-miss that could have resulted in a catastrophic collision.
Flight 2504 had departed from Omaha, Nebraska on Tuesday morning, according to FlightAware data.
The pilot was forced to cancel the landing
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The near-miss occurred around 9am local time at Chicago's Midway International Airport. The Southwest Boeing 737-8H4 was making its final approach when the incident unfolded.
FlightAware shows the flight eventually landed safely in Chicago at 10:10am, after performing the emergency manoeuvre. The aircraft had been in the air for approximately one hour and 44 minutes before the incident occurred.
Video footage of the terrifying moment shows the Southwest Airlines plane aborting its landing as the private jet entered its path.
In the video, the commercial plane can be seen descending towards the runway before abruptly ascending back into the air.
Seconds later, a smaller aircraft is seen rolling down the runway, directly in the path where the Southwest flight would have landed.
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The pilot had to pull up swiftly
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The Southwest crew performed what's known as a "go-around" manoeuvre, a safety procedure used to abort landings in dangerous situations.
A Southwest Airlines spokesperson said in a statement: "The Crew followed safety procedures and the flight landed without incident."
"Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees," the airline added.
The crew had performed a "precautionary go-around" to avoid a possible conflict with the other aircraft that entered the runway.
The private jet involved in the incident was operated by Flexjet, a fractional-ownership luxury leasing company.
Flexjet has acknowledged the occurrence and launched its own investigation.
"We are aware of the occurrence today in Chicago. Flexjet adheres to the highest safety standards, and we are conducting a thorough investigation," a Flexjet spokesperson said in a statement.
The company added that "any action to rectify and ensure the highest safety standards will be taken."
The business jet reportedly "entered the runway without authorisation" according to aviation authorities.
The FAA confirmed it is investigating the incident, stating: "The crew of Southwest Airlines Flight 2504 initiated a go-around when a business jet entered the runway without authorisation."
Chicago Midway International Airport is one of America's busiest transport hubs. Over 22 million passengers passed through the airport in 2023.
