Federal Aviation Administration Launches Emergency Audit of Major Airline Following Near-Collision at Chicago O'Hare
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Federal Aviation Administration announced today an emergency safety audit of a major U.S. airline following a near-collision incident at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, prompting immediate scrutiny of air traffic control protocols and pilot procedures.
What transpired was a close-call event on Monday evening, when a commercial passenger jet, operating on a domestic route, came within approximately 500 feet of a smaller aircraft that had inadvertently entered the runway without clearance. Officials confirmed the incident occurred at 6:47 PM local time during peak arrival hours.
Who is involved includes the unnamed airline, which ranks among the nation's top carriers by passenger volume, along with the FAA's Safety Inspection Division. The National Transportation Safety Board has also dispatched a team to review voice recordings and flight data.
Where the audit will focus is on the airline's entire fleet operations at O'Hare, the nation's second-busiest airport, with potential expansion to other major hubs pending initial findings. The FAA has mandated a full review of crew training records and maintenance logs within the next 30 days.
When the audit began is effective immediately, with preliminary results expected by the end of the business week. The airline has voluntarily grounded three aircraft for inspection as a precautionary measure.
Why this action was taken is due to a pattern of runway incursions that have raised concerns among aviation regulators, who warn that failure to comply could result in operational restrictions on the airline's schedule. The FAA emphasized that passenger safety remains the highest priority.