I really oughtn't complain about having to shovel my way through a twelve inch snowfall. Some people have it worse.
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- A Southwest Airlines jet slid off the runway during a driving snowstorm at Chicago's Midway Airport and slid into at least one vehicle at a nearby intersection on Thursday night, a spokeswoman for Chicago's Department of Aviation said.
Flight 1248, which was arriving from Baltimore, Maryland, slid through a fence separating the runway from the intersection, spokeswoman Wendy Abrams said.
"Through a fence," is a bit of an understatment. I live in a south burb, so Midway is about 10-15 minutes from me, and I drive through more often than not (my brother, a truck driver, is actually stuck in traffic over there at the moment). Basically, the airfield is surrounded by thick barricades, mainly as sound control (as the airport is in the middle of a neighborhood). Going through one of those is no small task. In addition, streets run parallel to these walls, only four or so feet from the barrier. Central Ave, 55th street, etc. So, this plane slid right into traffic. Pictures on the local news show a small car a mere foot or two from being inside one of wing engines.
As things stand, the only reported injuries are from people in cars on the street. The snow is still coming down around here rather furiously. Even watching cable news, it's difficult to see. Originally we were supposed to receive 1-3 inches. Then 4-6. Then 7-9. We're approaching a foot here on the south side. So, this should be a terrific mess.
Turns out a 6-year-old was killed.
Posted by: Malcontent | December 09, 2005 at 04:18 AM