A quick-thinking pilot averted a major disaster by taking off instead of landing at the last moment, preventing a collision between two planes on an American runway.

As reported by an international news agency, a Southwest Airlines pilot at Chicago’s Midway International Airport made a split-second decision to abort landing and take off again just before touchdown.

The sudden maneuver initially caused panic among passengers, but they soon realized the gravity of the situation when they saw another aircraft occupying the runway.

The incident occurred when a private plane entered the runway despite receiving nine warnings from air traffic control. Meanwhile, a passenger aircraft was approaching for landing but had to pull up upon spotting the obstruction ahead.

Following the incident, the plane landed safely at Chicago Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the matter.

It is worth noting that just last month, a tragic mid-air collision between a military helicopter and a passenger plane over a U.S. airport claimed 67 lives.