A Southwest Airlines plane was nearly involved in a serious accident at Chicago's Midway International Airport on the morning of this Tuesday.
Flight 2504, a Boeing 737-8H4 that had taken off from Omaha, Nebraska, was forced to abort its landing suddenly when a Flexjet private jet, a Bombardier Challenger 3500, dangerously entered its path.
The images captured by the security cameras show how the Southwest plane briefly touched the runway before the pilot executed a maneuver and managed to quickly ascend again to avoid a collision.
The private jet, which was headed to Knoxville, Tennessee, violated the airspace assigned to the commercial flight.
Fortunately, neither the passengers nor the crew were injured.
The Southwest plane managed to land safely shortly after executing the evasive maneuver.
In later statements, an airline spokesperson emphasized that "the crew followed safety procedures and the flight landed without incidents."
"Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees," they concluded.
A series of recent air accidents in the U.S.
This incident adds to a series of aviation accidents that have occurred in recent weeks in the United States, both in military and civilian sectors.
- On January 29th, a commercial airplane and a military helicopter collided near the capital, resulting in 67 fatalities.
- On January 31, a medical transport plane crashed in Philadelphia, claiming the lives of six people on board and one on the ground.
- On February 7, a small passenger plane crashed in Alaska, resulting in the deaths of ten people.
- On February 10, a tragic plane crash occurred on the afternoon of this Monday at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona, resulting in one death and several injuries, after a private plane collided with another aircraft parked on the runway.
- On February 12, a U.S. Navy E/A-18G Growler military aircraft crashed in San Diego Bay, California. In this incident, both crew members were able to eject before impact and were successfully rescued, authorities reported.
- On February 15th, two people died after a Rockwell Commander plane crashed at the Covington Municipal Airport, located about 55 kilometers east of Atlanta, Georgia.
- On February 19, at least two people died after the mid-air collision of two single-engine planes at the Marana Regional Airport in the state of Arizona.
Additionally, on February 17, a Delta Airlines plane overturned while landing at Toronto's Pearson International Airport, and left at least 15 injured, three of whom are in serious condition.
Mass layoffs at the Federal Aviation Administration
In that context, it was recently reported that the administration of Donald Trump has begun large-scale layoffs at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
This measure has sparked strong reactions among unions, lawmakers, and aviation security experts, who warn about the risks of reducing staff at a critical time.
The union representing FAA employees described the decision as "hasty" and warned that it would increase the workload of an already strained workforce.
Among those affected are maintenance mechanics, aeronautical information specialists, environmental protection specialists, aviation security assistants, and management and program assistants.
Frequently asked questions about the air incident in Chicago and air security in the U.S.
What happened in the aircraft incident at Chicago Midway International Airport?
A Southwest Airlines plane nearly collided with a Flexjet private jet at Chicago's Midway International Airport. The commercial flight had to abort its landing when the private jet encroached on its path. Fortunately, the Southwest pilot was able to avoid the collision and landed safely shortly thereafter.
What are the recent consequences of airplane accidents in the U.S.?
In recent weeks, a series of air accidents has been recorded in the U.S., both in the military and civilian sectors, resulting in numerous fatalities. These incidents have raised alarms about air safety in the country.
What measures has the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) taken in response to the wave of accidents?
The Donald Trump administration has initiated mass layoffs at the FAA, raising concerns and criticism from unions and aviation security experts. They warn about the risks of reducing staff at a critical time, increasing the workload of an already weakened workforce.
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