NTSB Cites Sun Glare and Communication Lapses in Near-Collision at Midway Airport

A Southwest Airlines flight narrowly avoided a Flexjet business jet by 175 feet after a runway incursion, with investigations into the February 25 incident ongoing.

• The Southwest Airlines pilots executed a go-around maneuver, narrowly avoiding a collision with a Flexjet business jet by 175 feet at Chicago Midway International Airport.
• The NTSB's preliminary report attributes the near-collision to sun glare, which impaired the Flexjet crew's visibility, and a failure to acknowledge air traffic control instructions.
• The Flexjet crew mistook runway 31L for a taxiway due to its similar width and did not recognize it as a runway, leading to the unauthorized crossing of runway 31C.
• Both the Southwest and Flexjet flights completed their respective journeys without injuries to passengers or crew, with the Flexjet departing 25 minutes after the incident.
• The NTSB and FAA are continuing their investigations, with a final report expected in one to two years, and findings likely to influence future aviation safety protocols.

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