Portland, Maine – The Federal Aviation Administration is currently investigating an incident that occurred at the Portland International Jetport earlier this week. The FAA disclosed that Southwest Airlines Flight 4805 to Baltimore took off from a closed runway at the airport on Tuesday morning, around 5:45 a.m. Reports suggest that an airport vehicle had inadvertently entered the runway just before the plane began its takeoff roll.

According to audio recordings from air traffic control, controllers attempted to warn the Southwest flight multiple times about the closed runway. Despite these warnings, the plane proceeded with takeoff without heeding the communication from the controllers. The Portland tower controllers were unable to establish contact with the flight during takeoff and after its departure.

In response to the incident, the Portland Jetport released a statement expressing gratitude for the swift actions taken by airport staff to prevent any potential danger. The primary east/west runway at the Jetport has been closed for runway maintenance work between 10:30 p.m. and 5:45 a.m. since April 22, requiring flights to utilize the north/south runway during these hours.

Southwest Airlines issued a statement acknowledging the incident and mentioned their cooperation with the NTSB and FAA to investigate the circumstances surrounding the early morning departure of Flight 4805. The airline confirmed that despite the unusual takeoff, the flight proceeded safely to its destination.

The FAA’s investigation into the incident at Portland International Jetport underlines the importance of communication and coordination between air traffic control and flight operations to ensure the safety of passengers and aircraft. Authorities will review the events leading up to the incident to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Airlines and airports are expected to adhere to strict protocols and procedures to avoid potential risks and ensure smooth operations.