One other day, one other shut name (because of The Aviation Herald for flagging this)…
Southwest 737 & personal jet have shut name on MDW runway
This incident occurred earlier immediately (Tuesday, February 25, 2025), at Chicago Halfway Airport (MDW), and entails two plane:
- A Southwest Boeing 737-800 with the license plate N8517F was performing flight WN2504, from Omaha (OMA), and was alleged to land on runway 31C at Chicago Halfway (MDW)
- A Flexjet Bombardier Challenger 35 with the license plate N560FX was performing a flight to Knoxville (TYS), and was alleged to depart from runway 22L at Chicago Halfway (MDW), and was crossing runway 31C
The Bombardier Challenger 35 had been instructed by air visitors controllers to carry wanting runway 31C. Nevertheless, for no matter motive, the pilots taxied proper throughout runway 31C, because the Southwest 737 was flaring to land.
Happily the Southwest pilots had been paying shut consideration, and so they initiated a go round, a second earlier than landing. The Bombardier pilots got a telephone quantity to name, for a pilot deviation.
In accordance with ADS-B information, the Southwest 737 was solely toes above the runway floor, and round 1,600 toes wanting the intersection the place the opposite jet was taxiing. The Southwest 737 ended up passing the intersection at roughly 150 toes above floor degree.
On the climb out, one of many Southwest pilots will be heard asking the air visitors controller “how did that occur?” The controller doesn’t reply to that, however advises the Southwest flight to modify frequencies (which is honest, for the reason that precedence is on security, and all the things else will be mentioned later).
You possibly can see a wonderful VASAviation recreation of the incident under, together with the air visitors management audio. Truthfully, the Flexjet pilots appeared completely unprepared, and all the communication on their half was abysmal.
The Southwest pilots did a stellar job right here
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating this incident. It’s clear that the fault right here lies with the Bombardier Challenger 35 pilots, for the reason that air visitors controller gave them clear directions to carry wanting the runway, and so they ignored it. So the investigation ought to look into why the pilots ignored these directions, and why they had been confused.
Truthfully, one has to marvel what the Bombardier Challenger pilots had been considering. You might have two pilots within the flight deck, and earlier than crossing a busy runway, you’d suppose that they’d be sure that they do in actual fact have clearance to cross, and likewise be sure that there’s not any aircraft on brief closing.
Happily the Southwest pilots did a stellar job, and avoiding these sorts of conditions whereas touchdown isn’t at all times as simple because it appears:
- While you’re on method, it may be arduous to inform if a aircraft has crossed the “maintain brief” line or not, and we’re typically speaking about cut up second choices
- As soon as the aircraft begins flaring, the nostril factors up, and it may be more durable to see over the sprint and down the runway
So thank goodness the Southwest pilots had been paying consideration, as they prevented a possible disaster. After all lately we’ve seen so many shut calls on airways, and as we’ve seen up to now in 2025, generally there’s a cut up second distinction between a detailed name and a heartbreaking tragedy.
Backside line
A Southwest Boeing 737 and Flexjet Bombardier Challenger 35 had a detailed name immediately at Chicago Halfway Airport. The Southwest plane had been given clearance to land, whereas the Flexjet plane had been informed to carry wanting the runway. For no matter motive, the Flexjet pilots didn’t maintain brief. Happily the Southwest pilots realized the hazard on the final second, and carried out a go round.
What do you make of this Chicago Halfway shut name?
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