Probe into O'Hare close call continues

A National Transportation and Safety Board investigation into a near miss at O'Hare International Airport last week could take a year to finish.

The NTSB Tuesday issued a preliminary report on the incident that involved a Learjet and an American Eagle flight. At about 12:47 p.m. July 21, the American Eagle flight bound for Peoria was departing as the Learjet was landing on an intersecting runway. Air traffic controllers noticed the convergence and instructed the Learjet to go around while the American Eagle was told to stay low.

The Learjet passed within 325 feet of the American Eagle. No one was injured. The Federal Aviation Administration has blamed the incident on traffic controller error and changes have been instituted to avoid a repeat.