NTSB Probes Near Collision At Chicago's O'Hare Airport

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Wednesday it will investigate another near collision incident on Monday afternoon at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

It is the third incident to be recorded at a major U.S. airport in July. The incident involved American Eagle Flight 298 and a private Learjet. The American Eagle, bound for Peoria with 43 passengers, was leaving on one runway as the Learjet was arriving on a perpendicular runway.

The air controller on duty failed to notice the Learjet was about to land when he cleared the American Eagle's takeoff. To avert a disaster, the controller ordered the Learjet to postpone its landing and fly around the airport, while the American Eagle was advised to stay low on departure.

The Learjet flew 325 feet above and slightly behind the American Eagle aircraft. Given their speed and distance from one another, they had high chances of hitting each other, according to Ken Mead, former inspector general of the Transportation Department.

Two other similar incidents being investigated by the NTSB took place at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. The July 11 incident involved a Delta Air Lines Boeing 757 and a Comair regional jet. The July 5 incident was between a Cayman Airways Boeing 737-300 and a LAN Chile Boeing 767-300.