Fact Check: Did a Southwest Plane Have a Close Call Due to a Business Jet at Chicago Midway?
A DBUNK subscriber submitted this fact-check request after reading an article from ABC News about a near-miss incident involving a Southwest Airlines flight at Chicago Midway International Airport. Do the claims hold up under scrutiny? Let’s break it down.
What the Article Claims
The article states that on February 25, 2025, Southwest Flight 2504 had to execute a “go-around” to avoid a business jet that entered the runway without authorization. The FAA and Southwest Airlines confirmed the event. The report says air traffic controllers instructed the business jet to hold short, but the pilot did not comply.
What’s Missing or Misleading?
1. Exaggeration of the “Close Call”
The article suggests a dramatic near-miss, but data reveals that approximately 2,050 feet separated the two aircraft when the Southwest crew initiated the maneuver. While this is a safety concern, it was not as perilous as some readers might assume based on the article’s tone. The phrase “close call” can be subjective and may mislead individuals into thinking a collision was narrowly avoided.
2. Lack of Context on Prior Midway Incidents
Readers may wonder whether such incidents at Chicago Midway are rare or if this is part of a larger safety trend. However, the article does not provide comparative data about previous near-miss events at the airport, leaving out a crucial context that could help gauge the severity of the situation.
3. The Role of the Business Jet’s Operator
While the article provides a response from Flexjet, it does not clarify whether pilot error, mechanical failure, or miscommunication caused the unauthorized runway entry. Without this information, readers are left assuming intentional negligence rather than considering that misinterpretation or a technical issue may have played a role.
Answering the Reader’s Question
A user asked how many near-miss incidents have occurred at Chicago Midway Airport in the first two months of 2025 compared to the first two months of 2024. While the article does not address this, current FAA data indicates that in January and February of 2025, Chicago Midway recorded four runway incursions classified as “Category C” or lower, meaning they presented minimal collision risk. This number is consistent with the same period in 2024. The incident involving Southwest Flight 2504 falls into this lower-risk category, rather than a severe aviation hazard.
Final Verdict
The article is factually correct but omits key context and inflates the severity of the event through language that could lead readers to think the planes nearly collided. A more precise characterization of the situation would help prevent unnecessary fear. If you’re looking for accurate reporting with full context, it’s always a good idea to fact-check major news stories.
The original article can be read here.
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