A momentary misalignment on the runway led to a quick and decisive rejected takeoff, preventing a potentially more serious situation during departure from one of the United States’ busiest airports.
On Mar 19th 2026, a United Airlines Boeing 737-700, registration N15712, operating flight UA-1394 from Chicago O’Hare to San Antonio, lined up on runway 10L via taxiway DD—but not as intended.
Instead of aligning with the runway centerline, the aircraft positioned along the left-hand edge line approximately 900 meters (3,000 feet) down the runway. Unaware of the misalignment at first, the crew began the takeoff roll.
As the aircraft accelerated through about 60 knots, the situation became apparent. The crew promptly rejected the takeoff, bringing the aircraft to a safe stop. During the lineup and initial roll, the aircraft struck runway or taxiway edge lights, as later confirmed by the Federal Aviation Administration.
After slowing, the aircraft vacated the runway via taxiway P4 roughly 1,600 meters (5,300 feet) down the runway. The crew then taxied back to the holding point at the runway threshold for further checks and coordination.
Following a brief pause of about eight minutes, the flight was cleared for departure once again—this time correctly aligned. The aircraft departed without further issue and continued to San Antonio, where it landed safely approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes later.
While no injuries were reported, the incident highlights how even minor deviations during lineup can quickly escalate during the high-workload phase of takeoff. In this case, the crew’s timely rejection at low speed ensured the aircraft remained within safe margins, turning a potentially hazardous situation into a controlled and uneventful recovery.