On December 8, 2005, Southwest Airlines Flight 1248, a Boeing 737-7H4, overran the runway while landing at Chicago Midway International Airport during a snowstorm. The aircraft skidded through a fence and onto Central Avenue, colliding with automobile traffic. Tragically, a six-year-old boy named Joshua Woods lost his life when the plane struck the family vehicle. Several passengers and individuals on the ground sustained injuries. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) attributed the accident to pilot error, specifically the crew’s failure to use available braking mechanisms promptly. In response, recommendations were made to improve landing distance calculations and pilot training. Subsequently, Midway Airport installed an Engineered Materials Arrestor System (EMAS) to enhance safety.
More recently, on February 25, 2025, a near-miss incident occurred at Midway Airport involving a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 and a private Bombardier Challenger 350 jet. The Southwest flight was on final approach when the private jet inadvertently moved onto the runway without authorization, prompting the Southwest pilots to execute a go-around maneuver to avoid a collision. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident.
These events underscore the critical importance of stringent safety protocols and continuous training to prevent accidents and ensure passenger safety.
