FAA TO STEP UP SMALL AIRCRAFT SCRUTINY AFTER CLOSE-CALL BETWEEN SOUTHWEST 737 AND BUSINESS JET
April 11, 2025
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On March 7, 2025, the FAA announced that it would be taking steps to address safety concerns after a near-miss incident that took place at Chicago Midway International Airport. The FAA is initiating a “safety-risk analysis” related to close encounters between pilots flying visually and pilots flying under the direction of air traffic control. The February 25, 2025 incident occurred when a Southwest Airlines flight was “forced to abort a landing at Chicago Midway and narrowly avoided a collision with a business jet that entered the runway without authorization.” This incident is one of many that have occurred over the last two years, highlighting concerns regarding understaffed air traffic control operations and the safety protocols in place for U.S. aviation. The FAA reminds pilots to “check notices for situations they can encounter during flight, be familiar with their destination airport, avoid complacency by paying attention to pre-flight checklists and pay close attention to onboard collision warnings.”
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