[Chi-townChief]

Live now on CNN.

[txroadkill]

This is Southwest 2nd incident. Parked one in gas station in Long Beach about 10 years ago.

[1rudeboy]

Southwest airline 737 plane now sitting in intersection of 55th and Central.

Wrong intersection. Should've tried the drive-thru at White Castle.

[txroadkill]

THis is going to have something to do with the auto-brake, SW policies, and the up-grades to -700's.
I believe that SW tried to make sure that all the new 737 cockpits were set up like -300 so the pilots didn't have to retrain or misread the new gages. The old -300 didn't have auto-brake and with the newer models they were real iffy about letting them use them. I know they were allowed to use "RTO" and were waiting for SW to allow them to use the auto-brakes on landing. I'm guessing at this point but I bet he was using it and set it either too high causing it to skid in the ice or set it to low and didn't stop fast enough.

[C210N]

This is a good place and time for a "405 The Movie" plug.

If you havn't seen it, check it out:

Click Here

[xrp]

I fly into Midway on Southwest Airlines all the time. I think the longest runway is 6100 feet. I pray EVERY time the plane I am on is on approach to Midway.

[rwfromkansas]

Surprisingly, despite not having all their attention on this story like CNN, Fox has actually broken more details about what has occurred.

[VeniVidiVici]

Damn. I hate quick yellows too.

[Paleo Conservative]

Southwest Airlines Confirms Incident

DALLAS - Dec. 8, 2005 - Southwest Airlines' Flight 1248 veered off the runway at Chicago Midway Airport at approximately 7:15 p.m. CST onto Central and 55th Ave. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-700 was enroute from Baltimore/Washington to Chicago Midway. The aircraft departed Baltimore/Washington at 4:50 p.m. CST. The flight was expected to land at 6:30 p.m. CST. The flight circled Chicago Midway Airport landing at approximately 7:15 p.m. CST.

The preliminary passenger list indicated the aircraft carried 98 passengers with a crew of five, although this is subject to confirmation. The names of any passengers will not be released until the appropriate family members have been notified.

Southwest Airlines' officials are in direct contact with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as they perform an investigation into the cause of this accident.

A toll-free number has been established by Southwest Airlines to assist friends and family members wanting information about passengers onboard Flight 1248. That number is (800) 922-9525. Periodic updates will also be posted on the Internet at www.southwest.com.

A news advisory will be issued when a media briefing time has been determined. Subsequent briefings will be held as needed.

All flights leaving Chicago Midway Airport have been temporarily suspended/delayed. Passengers with specific questions on flights can call 1-800-435-9792 or log on to www.southwest.com for updated information.

RETURN TO SOUTHWEST AIRLINES HOME

Media Please Call: Public Relations (214) 792-4847

If you want on or off my aerospace ping list, please contact me by Freep mail.

[syriacus]

I've flown into and out of Midway on Southwest about 6 or 8 times, all within 3 months of 9/11. The folks at Southwest were great. I like Midway, too.

[GianniV]

Prediction - it will come out that either the pilot or air traffic controller who normally is involved in this flight/landing is in the National Guard and in Iraq. Thus, it will be Bush's fault this tragedy happened.

You wait.

[Lazamataz]

Midway: Southwest Plane Crashes through fence.

al Qaeda!!!!!

[DakotaRed]

With all the ideas I hear coming from many about how to prevent this from happening, such as crushable concrete at the ends of runways and such, why hasn't anyone thought of the most obvious prevention?

DON'T BUILD ROADS AND BUSINESSES RIGHT NEXT TO AIRPORT RUNWAYS!!!!!!!

Are people so Stuck on Stupid to build and buy property adjacent to an airport without realizing that airplanes land there? I can't remember any airport being built in the middle of a busy business or housing district, but there are sure has been a lot of those business and housing constructions smothering the airports.

Use some common sense, it isn't all that hard.

[Ignatz]

Stewardess to passenger: "Would you like a drink, sir?"
Passenger: "Sure. I'll have what ever the pilot is having."