Share and Follow
WHEELING, Ill. A small plane crashed into a fence at Chicago Executive Airport Wednesday afternoon in Wheeling.
The crash happened at around 12:30 p.m. at the airport located at 1020 South Plant Road.
According to the FAA, a Gulfstream G150 went off the end of the runway after landing at Chicago Executive Airport. The airplane then crashed through a fence before coming to a stop at Hintz Road, with inches of its nose hanging above the curb.
The aircraft, which had two people on board at the time, previously took off from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, according to officials.
Student pilot Michael Marszalek, who has flown with an instructor at Chicago Executive Airport, said the fence the airplane crashed into is part of a safety system at the airport, designed to catch airplanes and preventing them from ending up in the roadway.
“They have that zone over there. It’s supposed to catch the airplane,” Marszalek said. “It’s very good that it didn’t hit the road you know, because like someone could have died, could have hit a car.”
Video from Skycam9 captured the scene of the incident.
The fire chief told affiliate WGN-TV the pilot reported a braking issue that may have contributed to the crash.
No injuries were reported.
FAA records show the airplane is owned by Chicago-based Gallagher Insurance, Risk-Management and Consulting, the same company that owns the naming rights of Gallagher Way outside of Wrigley Field.
The crash closed the airport for some time, but airplanes are currently able to take off again. One runway, however, remains closed, but airport officials expect normal operations to resume this evening.
No further details have been provided at this time and the FAA is continuing its investigation.