NTSB investigates near collision at O'Hare

National Transportation Safety Board authorities are probing how two planes narrowly missed each other at O'Hare International Airport Monday afternoon.

A Learjet was landing on Runway 9-R, one of the airport's east-west runways, at 12:47 p.m. At the same time, an American Eagle flight was departing on Runway 32-L, which intersects 9-R on a diagonal.

An air traffic controller at the O'Hare tower saw the planes converging on each other with moments to spare. The Learjet pilot was instructed to go around the airport while the American Eagle pilot was told to stay low during its initial ascent.

The planes passed within just 325 feet of each other.

The American eagle flight was headed for Peoria with 43 passengers and three crew members aboard. The Learjet's registered owner is Electrolux Home Products Inc. of Augusta, Ga.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Elizabeth Cory said it appeared an air traffic controller at the O'Hare tower erred in clearing the American Eagle flight to take off assuming no more arrivals were imminent on Runway 9-R because it had been quiet for about 20 minutes.

O'Hare tower union President Darryl Wiegmann said a flight arriving early on 9-R had created a lengthy gap between landings, leading staff to believe all was clear.

Once the danger became apparent, "controllers did what they were trained to do," to prevent a crisis, he said.

As a result, officials are instituting better coordination concerning Runway 9-R between O'Hare tower controllers and those working at the Elgin air traffic radar facility, which guides flights heading into the airport. Another change involves increasing surveillance of Runway 32-L when certain conditions are in existence, the FAA said.

Wiegmann said controllers were also hoping for upgrades in the radar system that tracks incoming aircraft.

A preliminary report on the incident by the NTSB is expected within a few days.

"These things aren't common," NTSB spokeswoman Bridget Ann Serchak said.