A Southwest Airlines flight nearly took off from a Florida taxiway on Thursday before an air traffic controller stopped the potentially dangerous departure, officials said. The incident involving Flight 3278 unfolded at Orlando International Airport at 9:30 a.m. as the plane attempted to depart for Albany, officials said.

A Southwest Airlines flight almost took off from a taxiway — rather than a runway — at a central Florida airport on Thursday before an air traffic controller stopped the plane, officials said.