NTSB probe of Chicago Midway near miss reveals sun glare as possible contributing factor

Sun glare whitethorn person been a contributing origin successful the caller adjacent miss involving a Southwest Airlines pitchy astatine Chicago Midway International Airport, a preliminary study by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed. 

The Southwest Airlines formation was forced to execute a go-around maneuver portion coming successful for a landing erstwhile a smaller Flexjet aircraft began taxiing crossed the plane’s way connected the runway connected Feb. 25. The incidental was captured successful a melodramatic video. 

The NTSB’s preliminary study said the formation unit of the Flexjet level was instructed by crushed power to "turn near onto runway 04L, transverse runway 31L and past clasp abbreviated of runway 31C," wherever the Southwest level was arriving. 

"According to post-incident statements, the formation unit of LXJ560 indicated that arsenic they turned near onto runway 4L/22R, the prima was impeding visibility from the close broadside of the aircraft" -- the absorption successful which the Southwest pitchy was heading towards them, the study said. 

SOUTHWEST FLIGHT BARELY MISSES COLLISION AT CHICAGO MIDWAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 

The Southwest formation unit performed a go-around maneuver to debar a imaginable incidental with a backstage pitchy that crossed its way connected the runway astatine Chicago Midway International Airport connected Tuesday morning. (StreamTime Live)

It added that the Flexjet formation unit "did not callback seeing immoderate clasp abbreviated line/pavement markings oregon immoderate different signs for the 31L intersection arsenic they taxied onto runway 04L/22R. 

"They further stated that runway 13R/31L appeared to person a precise akin width to taxiways and that they had not recognized it arsenic a runway," the NTSB study besides said. "The skipper stated that arsenic helium approached runway 13C/31C helium had thought it was runway 13R/31L. As they approached the runway intersection the unit stated they some looked to the near and to the close and did not observe the SWA [Southwest] airplane connected final." 

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"As LXJ560 approached the clasp abbreviated enactment for runway 31C the crushed controller instructed LXJ560 to clasp short, but the transmission was not acknowledged," according to the NTSB. 

NTSB BLAMES SOUTHWEST CHICAGO NEAR MISS ON FLEXJET CREW ‘FAILURE’ TO LISTEN TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL 

A diagram showing the question paths of the Flexjet aircraft, successful blue, and the Southwest Airlines plane, successful orange, connected Feb. 25 astatine Chicago Midway International Airport. (NTSB)

Following the incident, the skipper of the Flexjet craft parked the level and "subsequently contacted the relation to notify them of the imaginable aviator deviation, assessed their wellbeing to proceed the flight, and subsequently departed astir 25 minutes aft the runway incursion," the NTSB added, 

Southwest Flight 2504 from Omaha, Nebraska, yet landed safely, having performed the precautionary maneuver to debar "a imaginable conflict" with the Flexjet aircraft, Southwest said successful a connection to Fox News astatine the clip of the incident. 

"The unit followed information procedures and the formation landed without incident," a Southwest spokesperson told Fox News successful a statement. "Nothing is much important to Southwest than the information of our customers and employees." 

The NTSB's preliminary study suggested that prima glare mightiness person been a contributing origin successful the Feb. 25 incidental successful Chicago. (NTSB)

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"We are alert of the occurrence... successful Chicago," added a Flexjet spokesperson successful a statement. "Flexjet adheres to the highest information standards and we are conducting a thorough investigation. Any enactment to rectify and guarantee the highest information standards volition beryllium taken." 

Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace and Greg Wehner contributed to this report.