Private Jet Crew Entered the Runway “Without Authorization” Before Near-Crash [WATCH]

A terrifying close call at Chicago Midway Airport has been blamed on the pilots of a private Flexjet aircraft who failed to follow air traffic control (ATC) instructions, according to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy, as reported by Fox News.

Speaking on “Fox & Friends” Wednesday, Homendy explained that the Flexjet crew had been told to “line up and wait” while holding short of runway 31C, the same runway where a Southwest Airlines plane was landing. Instead, the private jet crossed into the runway’s path, creating a dangerous situation.

While she pointed to the crew’s failure to follow ATC as the primary cause, Homendy emphasized that the NTSB’s investigation remains ongoing.

“There’s a lot of information we still have to collect. We want to know what was going on in the cockpit of that airplane.

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Investigators are reviewing ATC communications and have requested the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from Flexjet.

President Donald Trump, never one to shy away from weighing in on major events, reacted to the near-disaster on Truth Social. He praised the Southwest pilots while taking aim at the Flexjet crew.

“GREAT JOB BY THE SOUTHWEST PILOTS IN CHICAGO. A NEARLY TRAGIC CLOSE CALL. PERHAPS SUSPEND THE PILOTS LICENSE OF THE OTHER PLANE, WHO MUST HAVE BEEN ‘SLEEPING!’” Trump wrote.

GREAT JOB BY THE SOUTHWEST PILOTS IN CHICAGO. A NEARLY TRAGIC CLOSE CALL. PERHAPS SUSPEND THE PILOTS LICENSE OF THE OTHER PLANE, WHO MUST HAVE BEEN “SLEEPING!”

Donald Trump Truth Social Post 09:17 AM EST 02/26/25

— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) February 26, 2025

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The near-miss unfolded on Tuesday when the Southwest aircraft had already touched down. As the pilots spotted the Flexjet jet entering the runway unauthorized, they swiftly reacted by taking off again, narrowly avoiding a catastrophic collision.

Aviation officials are not taking the incident lightly. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the Flexjet jet entered the runway “without authorization” and stated that a formal investigation is underway.

SHOCKING🚨Southwest plane at Chicago Midway airport barely missed crashing into another plane on runway. 😳 pic.twitter.com/XIzbvEnDnz

— Ms Trevian Kutti (@FreeTrevian) February 25, 2025

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy suggested that the Flexjet pilots could face severe consequences, possibly losing their licenses.

The @NTSB and @FAANews are investigating the Chicago Midway International Airport incident. I will provide more updates once I have them.

However, it is imperative that pilots follow the instructions of air traffic controllers. If they do not, their licenses will be pulled.

— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) February 25, 2025

Flexjet released a statement acknowledging the incident, insisting that they maintain “the highest safety standards” and are conducting their own internal review. “Any action to rectify and ensure the highest safety standards will be taken,” a spokesperson said.

Despite this close call, Homendy reassured the public that air travel remains the safest mode of transportation. However, the Chicago incident comes amid a troubling pattern of recent aviation disasters across the country.

Just last week, a devastating midair collision at a regional airport in Arizona left two people dead. Meanwhile, a medical ambulance flight crashed in Philadelphia, killing seven, and in Washington, D.C., a helicopter slammed into a commercial jet, resulting in over 60 fatalities.

As scrutiny over America’s aviation safety intensifies, the Chicago near-miss serves as yet another stark reminder of the importance of strict adherence to ATC instructions and quick thinking by pilots in moments of crisis.

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