Southwest Pilot Swiftly Aborts Landing at Hollywood Burbank Due to Obstructed Runway, Ensuring Passenger Safety

A recent incident at Hollywood Burbank Airport involved a Southwest Airlines pilot who was recorded informing passengers that the aircraft had to perform a go-around maneuver. This decision was made after the plane briefly touched down because the runway was not fully cleared as anticipated.

The event took place last Thursday, with the Boeing 737 arriving from Las Vegas, as reported by KABC. In a video obtained by the station, the pilot addressed the passengers over the intercom, explaining, “Hey folks, just a quick update. The ordered runway wasn’t quite clear when we were going to touch down there, so we had to go-around.”

He assured the passengers that it would take an additional 5-10 minutes before they could safely land. This communication highlights the importance of safety protocols in aviation, ensuring that all necessary precautions are taken, even if it means a brief delay.

An image depicting a Southwest Airlines plane descending toward Hollywood Burbank Airport was captured on January 29, 2026, by photographer Mario Tama.

A Southwest Airlines plane descends before landing at Hollywood Burbank Airport in Burbank, Calif., on Jan. 29, 2026. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

One passenger told KABC that the plane’s wheels briefly touched the runway before the aircraft took off again at a steep incline. 

The Federal Aviation Administration told Fox News Digital on Saturday that “The flight crew of Southwest Airlines Flight 2353 executed a pilot-initiated go-around after briefly landing at Hollywood Burbank Airport in California.” 

The FAA said “The flight crew of Southwest Airlines Flight 2353 executed a pilot-initiated go-around after briefly landing at Hollywood Burbank Airport in California” on Thursday, March 26. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

“There were no other aircraft or vehicles involved,” the FAA added.

A Southwest Airlines spokesperson told Fox News Digital, “We don’t have any internal reports of a runway incursion, and the FAA has indicated to us they do not either.”

“From our initial reports, the pilots performed a routine go around before landing safely. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of its customers and employees,” the spokesperson added.

A Southwest Airlines plane takes off from Hollywood Burbank Airport in Burbank, Calif., on Jan. 29, 2026. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

In July 2025, a Southwest pilot on a flight from Burbank to Las Vegas had to dive aggressively to avoid a midair collision, FOX 11 Los Angeles reported.