A close call was reported at Chicago Midway International Airport on Tuesday morning when a Southwest Airlines plane and an un authorized private jet entered the runway simultaneously, prompting the flight crew to perform a go-around. The incident occurred at approximately 8:50 a.m. local time.
According to FlightRadar24, the Southwest plane, arriving from Omaha, Nebraska, was headed towards Runway 31L when it came within 2,050 feet of a Bombardier Challenger 350 private jet that had entered the runway without authorization. The pilot initiated the go-around maneuver to avoid a potential collision.
Air traffic control instructed the private jet to turn left on Runway 4L and hold short of Runway 31C before the pilot replied. However, air traffic controllers immediately corrected the instruction, telling the private jet to cross Runway 31L instead.
After realizing the mistake, the Southwest plane’s crew was cleared by air traffic control to climb to 3,000 feet. The pilot asked how this incident happened after reaching that altitude.
The Southwest plane landed safely and was reportedly calm throughout the process. Passengers praised the crew for their professionalism. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated it is essential for pilots to follow air traffic controllers’ instructions accurately.
An investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board has been launched into this incident, which joins a string of safety incidents in recent weeks.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/25/us/chicago-midway-airport-near-miss-planes/index.html