Balanced News Blog

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 attempting to land at Chicago’s Midway Airport in heavy snow Thursday evening slid off a runway, broke through a barrier fence and stopped in the middle of the street at 55th Street and Central Avenue.

At least two vehicles were damaged, and one was pinned under part of the plane, Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said. Five people were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in an unknown condition, said Deborah Song, a spokeswoman.

The plane, Southwest Flight 1248 from Baltimore, was landing about 7 p.m, according to fire and police reports. There were 98 passengers aboard and a crew of five, said Wendy Abrams, a spokeswoman with the Chicago Department of Aviation, which controls the airport. They were evacuated, loaded onto buses and taken to an airport terminal, she added.

Source: Chicago Tribune