The Cautionary Tale of the Destruction of Meigs Field

It's been more than two decades since then-Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley ordered large X’s carved into the runway, rendering it unusable.

Meg Godlewski

Monday, April 01, 2024 at 02:48 PM ET

Verified

Meigs Field was the best way to fly into Chicago for GA pilots—before it was destroyed in March 2003. [Credit: Friends of Meigs Field]

Key Takeaways:

Merrill C. Meigs Field in Chicago was abruptly and secretly destroyed on March 31, 2003, by Mayor Richard M. Daley, who ordered its runway rendered unusable without prior notice to the aviation community.
Daley's unilateral action bypassed years of opposition from aviation groups and federal regulations, with his stated justifications for the sudden closure (security concerns, avoiding litigation) being largely discredited.
The incident resulted in a federal fine for Chicago and prompted the "Meigs Legacy Provision," which drastically increased penalties for illegal airport closures, making Meigs Field a powerful cautionary tale and rallying cry for threatened airports.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Where were you on March 31, 2003, when the aviation world woke up to the news that Merrill C. Meigs Field in Chicago had been destroyed?

I was at Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida, working as an aviation reporter. Early that morning I started getting voicemails and emails telling me about the large X’s carved into the runway, rendering it unusable and trapping a handful of aircraft based there.