NTSB Investigates Near-Miss Between Regional Jets at O’Hare

Bethany Whitfield

Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 09:00 PM ET

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Key Takeaways:

The NTSB is investigating a near-miss at Chicago O’Hare where two regional jets came within 225 feet vertically and 480 feet laterally due to a newly certified air traffic controller's error.
The incident, which occurred amidst distractions from a Vice President's visit, prompted an automated alarm and a go-around instruction for one of the aircraft.
This event adds to growing scrutiny of the FAA's air traffic control system, especially concerning the rising number of inexperienced controllers and an increase in reported controller errors.

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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is looking into an incident in which two regional jets came within just a few hundred feet of each other while crossing paths at Chicago O’Hare International Airport last week.** **

The event occurred around 9:30 a.m. on Monday, May 16, when an Embraer ERJ-145 operated by ExpressJet Airlines was cleared for takeoff on Runway 32L. At the same time, a Canadair CRJ-200 operated by SkyWest Airlines had been cleared to land on Runway 9R, an act that would require the Canadair jet to cross over Runway 32L at low altitude.