NTSB reviewing O’Hare close-call

The National Transportation Safety Board’s review of a near collision between two planes at O’Hare International Airport Monday morning indicated the one of the planes was about 225 feet above the other at one point.

Officials are placing the blame on an air traffic controller who was directing a SkyWest Airlines flight to land as an ExpressJet Airlines flight was taking off from an intersecting runway.

A supervisor in the tower noticed the situation and directed the pilot of the SkyWest flight to pull up and abort the landing, according to a NTSB statement.

The near-miss occurred shortly after Vice President Joe Biden’s plane landed at O’Hare for Rahm Emanuel’s inauguration.

A NTSB review of radar data indicated the SkyWest inbound aircraft crossed the runway as the ExpressJet was taking off from approximately 225 feet above the ExpressJet and less than 480 feet laterally apart.

The NTSB is planning to interview air traffic control personnel involved in the incident as part of their investigation.

The Federal Aviation Administration is looking into whether any additional training is needed for the air traffic controller who allowed the near-miss and if any procedural changes are necessary.