KNSD-TV (NBC San Diego) just reported the story on their 6pm news, they added that a mechanic told a Chicago radio station that the nose gear collapsed and an engine was damaged. ---------------------------------------------------------- http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=3708676 Jetliner slides off runway at Midway Airport WLS December 8, 2005 - A Southwest Airlines flight from Baltimore to Chicago slid off a runway at Midway International Airport and onto a nearby street as it attempted to land amid heavy snow and wind, authorities said Thursday. Officers at Chicago Police Department headquarters said they could provide no additional details. Police talking over squad radios said the airplane was a 737 and that it apparently slid onto a nearby road, Central Avenue at 55th Street. The plane is reportedly Southwest Airlines flight No. 1248 en route from Baltimore. It was due to land at Midway at 7:10 p.m. At least 10 ambulances were called to the scene, but there were no immediate reports of injuries. The plane reportedly came in contact with one car. ABC7 spoke with a Chicago Fire Department spokesperson Larry Langford soon after the incident: CFD: I am standing near the area of the aircraft. We have evacuated all the people from the aircraft, more than 90 people on the Southwest jet. They are being cared for and being sent to warming buses on the scene. We are in the process of treating serious injuries on the ground. A couple of people were in a vehicle and we are in the process of doing extrication on people in the vehicle. No one on the aircraft appears to be injured, and we're caring for them now. ABC7: Larry, when the plane went off the runway and ended up at 55th and Central, how many cars did it come in contact with? CFD: From what I can see here, looks like one vehicle so far. I can't get around the other side of the aircraft yet. I am still trying to get some information for you, but I see the aircraft and the nose of the plane is sitting on the sidewalk on the west side of Central, pretty close to the intersection itself. One wing tip is still over the barrier wall of the airport, so we are working on two people right now in the vehicle. ABC7: Larry, those 90 people who were on board the aircraft, and they all got off safely and no injuries at all to the best of your knowledge? CFD: No injuries, and they are evacuated and being cared for in warming buses that are being lined up nearby. ABC7: I can imagine the traffic will be a mess throughout the rest of the evening. CFD: Eighth District police are on the scene and taking care of traffic being blocked at 55th and Cicero and surrounding intersections. As you can probably see from the helicopter shots you may or may not have right now, 55th Street will be shut down for some time. There will be a major investigation as they deal with the situation. ABC7: Larry, we were lucky there was no fire on the aircraft or in the cars involved? CFD: There has been no fires at all. We have a small fuel leak, which we are taking care of. Nothing serious as far as the fuel leak is concerned. And absolutely no fire has broken out here at all. ABC7: Larry, I know you don't speak for the airport, but are you seeing any airplanes landing now? CFD: I don't see anything coming in or out of the airport. There is a lot of airport emergency vehicles right here now. But doesn't look like there's much going on at the airport other than what's happening right now.