Chicago Midway Near Miss: Critical Runway Safety Lessons

As a Training Captain with over 15 years of experience, I've seen countless runway incursion scenarios in the simulator. But yesterday's incident at Chicago Midway serves as a powerful real-world reminder of why we drill these procedures relentlessly.

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 was moments from touchdown on Runway 31C when the unthinkable happened—a Bombardier Challenger 35 crossed the active runway without clearance. The Southwest crew, already in the flare just feet above the ground, executed a textbook go-around, transforming what could have been catastrophic into a teaching moment for pilots worldwide. This incident perfectly demonstrates why runway incursion training remains one of our highest priorities in commercial aviation.

What Made This Go-Around Exceptional

What makes this incident particularly noteworthy is the crew's immediate response. They didn't wait for Tower's instruction—they were already executing the go-around when ATC began to issue the command. This level of situational awareness and decisive action exemplifies what we strive for in every training session.

The crew's performance highlights three critical elements of professional aviation: threat recognition, immediate decision-making, and flawless execution under extreme pressure. In our simulator sessions, we recreate these exact scenarios because muscle memory and procedural knowledge must be instant when lives are at stake.

Key Takeaway: Professional pilots train to recognize developing threats and act decisively without waiting for external confirmation. Trust your training and your instincts.

Essential Training Elements for Runway Safety

Maintaining situational awareness during the approach and landing phase requires constant vigilance. Active scanning must continue through touchdown, monitoring tower frequencies for potential conflicts while staying mentally ahead of the aircraft. This is why we emphasize cross-cockpit communication during critical phases of flight.

Go-around execution demands precise technical knowledge. Power settings should be second nature, decision points must be crystal clear, and proper trim management becomes crucial for safe climb performance. During recurrent training, we focus heavily on the Boeing 737's specific go-around procedures, including proper engine spool-up timing and pitch attitude management.

The Southwest crew's actions demonstrate why we drill these procedures until they become automatic responses. In the B737-800, the go-around procedure involves advancing thrust levers to the go-around detent, calling for "FLAPS 15," and maintaining proper pitch attitude while cleaning up the aircraft configuration.

Career-Stage Specific Learning Points

For Student Pilots

Understanding why go-around procedures are critical forms the foundation of safety-minded decision-making. Learn to recognize developing threats early in your training, and practice decisive decision-making in controlled environments. Every flight lesson should include discussion of potential runway conflicts and appropriate responses.

For Line Pilots

Never become complacent in routine operations, especially during high-traffic periods at busy airports like Midway. Maintain proficiency in emergency procedures through regular practice, and trust your instincts when something feels wrong. The Southwest crew's immediate action saved lives because they maintained this professional vigilance.

Key Takeaway: Complacency is the enemy of safety. Every approach requires the same level of attention and preparation, regardless of how routine it may seem.

For Training Captains

Emphasize real-world scenarios in your instruction, focusing on decision-making under pressure rather than just procedural knowledge. Reinforce the importance of immediate action when threats develop, and use incidents like this Midway example to illustrate why we train so extensively on these procedures.

Advanced Safety Procedures and System Knowledge

This incident reinforces several critical training points that we incorporate into our advanced training modules. Regular simulation of abnormal scenarios helps pilots maintain proficiency in threat recognition and response. We conduct thorough briefings of potential runway incursion hotspots at various airports, and we establish clear communication protocols for all flight phases.

Modern aircraft systems, including the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) and Enhanced Flight Vision Systems (EFVS), provide additional layers of protection. However, as this incident demonstrates, pilot judgment and immediate action remain the primary defense against runway incursions.

The Boeing 737's flight management system includes runway awareness and advisory systems that can alert crews to potential conflicts. Understanding these systems and their limitations forms a crucial part of type rating training and recurrent education.

Simulator Training Applications

In our training scenarios, we recreate similar situations using various weather conditions, traffic densities, and airport configurations. We practice go-arounds from different phases of approach, including late recognition scenarios where crews must execute the procedure from very low altitudes, just as the Southwest crew did at Midway.

These simulator sessions focus on crew resource management, proper communication protocols, and the technical aspects of go-around execution in different aircraft configurations. We also emphasize the importance of continuing to fly the aircraft while managing the emergency situation.

Key Takeaway: Simulator training must replicate real-world pressure and decision-making scenarios. The closer we can make training to actual operational conditions, the better prepared crews become for incidents like this one.

Moving Forward: Industry-Wide Improvements

This incident highlights ongoing efforts to enhance runway safety through improved ground radar systems, better pilot training protocols, and enhanced communication procedures. The FAA's Runway Incursion Mitigation program continues to develop new technologies and procedures to prevent similar occurrences.

As training professionals, we must continue adapting our instruction to address evolving threats and incorporate lessons learned from real-world incidents. The Midway incident will undoubtedly become a case study in our training curricula, demonstrating the value of proper preparation and decisive action.

Training Until We Can't Get It Wrong

The difference between a near-miss and a catastrophe often comes down to preparation and split-second decision-making. This Chicago Midway incident serves as a powerful reminder that in aviation, we train not until we get it right, but until we can't get it wrong.

The Southwest crew's exemplary performance demonstrates why rigorous training standards and constant vigilance remain the cornerstones of commercial aviation safety. Every simulator session, every recurrent training event, and every safety briefing contributes to moments like these where professional preparation meets critical need.

 

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