“Oh Sh*t, Cancel Takeoff Clearance”: Southwest 737 Aborts As Private Plane Turns Onto Runway

On Tuesday, January 27, 2026, a Southwest Boeing 737 departing San Antonio airport for Dallas Love Field around 1:40 p.m. began its takeoff on Runway 22 when a private Pilatus PC‑12 inadvertently turned onto that same runway.

The tower declared “Oh shit!” and canceled the takeoff clearance. They realized the clearance they’d just issued couldn’t be safely used anymore, because that PC-12 was in the way. Southwest flight 4996 rejected the takeoff and was able to stop on the runway. Another arriving aircraft was sent around. And the FAA is investigating.

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

Southwest, 4996, 10 at the tower, you up and ready? Southwest, 4996, traffic’s 4 mile final, runway 22, clear for takeoff. 2-2-2 for takeoff, Southwest, 4996. Wind 210 at 9 o’clock.

Oh shit, uh, cancel takeoff clearance, cancel takeoff clearance, Southwest. Southwest, 6210, go around, fly runway heading, climb maintain 4000.

Going around 4000, runway heading, Skylane 6, 210.

Southwest, 4996. Uh, Wind Able Sir, can you hold your position on the runway?

Reportedly, the Southwest 737 was accelerating to 100 knots when takeoff clearance was cancelled. That’s fast, but still within the range where the aircraft can safely reject a takeoff provided the crew reacts quickly.

At San Antonio, runway 13R/31L is closed for two months for maintenance work. There’s more traffic on 4/22 and flow patterns some pilots are used to there will change. The tower doesn’t have ground radar, and missed turns are a known risk at this airport as well.