NTSB Investigates AE Flight
As the result of a near midair collision involving an American Eagle regional jet, new procedures have been implemented at Chicago O’Hare for arrivals to runway 9R requiring specific coordination between approach control and the tower regarding whether 9R is in use. The action comes as part of an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board into the near midair between an American Eagle ERJ-145 and a business jet which occurred on July 21, 2008, at 12:47 Central Daylight Time.
Analysis of radar replays revealed that the Learjet passed 325 feet above and slightly behind the departing ERJ-145. There were no reported injuries or damage to the aircraft.
The American Eagle flight was departing runway 32L and the Learjet was landing on runway 9R. The local assistant/monitor for the local air traffic controller observed the converging paths of the two airplanes and advised the local controller to instruct the Learjet to go around. The ERJ-145 airplane was instructed to stay low on departure.

ASA Aircraft Damaged in Mx Mishap
It is unclear how much a mishap which involved three aircraft at Atlantic Southeast’s maintenance base at Baton Rouge may cost the airline in what the carrier calls an extremely rare incident that has never occurred before at any ASA location.
On the morning of July 7 three aircraft were scheduled for maintenance at the Baton Rouge hangar facility. Reportedly, a mechanic, working on an aircraft scheduled for compressor blade cleaning pressed the starter switch to spin the aircraft around. The action put the engine into immediate takeoff power hurling the aircraft at 90-degree angles. According to local press reports, the entire incident took five seconds and witnesses were surprised the entire hangar didn’t erupt in flames, nor produce any injuries to the 14 mechanics and cleaning crews present.
ASA’s internal investigation team conducted a thorough investigation in the days and weeks following the incident and resulted in adjustments to processes during specific routine maintenance to ensure the safety of employees and aircraft. The airline pointed out that it has an excellent safety record having been the first American carrier to earn OSHA’s VPP certification at the “Star” level for safety at one of its maintenance hangar facilities in 2005.
“Any incident that involves our people, our planes or our passengers is taken extremely seriously and corrective steps are in place to ensure such an incident does not occur again,” said the airline.