A plane crashed through a perimeter fence at Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling on Wednesday afternoon, causing significant travel disruption with all departures halted and flights being diverted to alternative airports.
The aircraft broke through the fence on Hintz Road at the north end of the airport, coming within inches of the roadway, according to police and emergency responders at the scene. Whilst no injuries have been reported, the incident has created chaos for travellers as airport operations remain severely impacted.
Chicago Executive Airport, formerly known as Palwaukee Municipal Airport, has suspended all departures whilst emergency crews secure the scene and investigate the crash. The airport, located 18 miles northwest of Chicago in Cook County, is the fourth busiest airport in Illinois with over 77,000 take-offs and landings annually.
A plane has crashed through the fence on to Hintz Road on the north end of Chicago Executive Airport,” NBC Chicago reporter Mike Lorber reported from the scene. “Wheeling PD and scanner both report no injuries. EB Hintz Rd closed at Wolf. Departure and landing delays.”
According to FlightRadar24 data, at least one aircraft has been diverted to Wooster Wayne County Airport in Ohio as a result of the incident. Several other flights are experiencing delays, with one Boston-bound flight already pushed back by an hour.
Road Closures and Emergency Response
Eastbound Hintz Road remains closed between South Wolf Road and South Milwaukee Avenue as police and firefighters from Wheeling work to investigate and secure the crash site. The closure is causing additional traffic disruption in the area surrounding the busy general aviation airport.
Emergency services responded swiftly to the incident, with both Wheeling Police Department and fire crews arriving at the scene shortly after the crash occurred on Wednesday afternoon. Reporters at the scene confirmed that whilst the aircraft came perilously close to the roadway, it did not reach the street itself.
The incident marks the latest in a series of aviation emergencies across the United States in 2025, though officials have not yet released details about the type of aircraft involved or the circumstances leading to the crash.
Airport Operations Severely Impacted
Chicago Executive Airport serves primarily business and general aviation traffic and operates under its own Class Delta airspace, which underlies the Class Bravo airspace around Chicago O’Hare International Airport. The facility is jointly owned by the City of Prospect Heights and the Village of Wheeling.
“Chicago Executive Airport is not allowing any departures right now,” reporters at the scene confirmed, highlighting the significant operational impact of the incident.
The airport features three intersecting runways and hosts multiple fixed-base operators (FBOs) and private hangars around its perimeter. Its proximity to downtown Chicago and location near Interstate 94 makes it a crucial hub for corporate travellers and recreational flyers heading to the city or surrounding suburbs.
Investigation Underway
Whilst the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not yet issued a formal statement about the incident, standard protocol dictates that both the FAA and potentially the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the crash.
The cause of the incident remains unknown at this time, with investigators expected to examine multiple factors including weather conditions, mechanical issues, and pilot error. Wednesday’s weather in the Chicago area was reported as clear, ruling out immediate weather-related causes that have plagued other recent incidents at the airport.
History of Incidents
Chicago Executive Airport has experienced several aviation incidents in recent years. In October 2020, a Learjet slid off Runway 30 during rainy conditions, crashing through a fence near Wolf Road. The aircraft’s wing struck a fence pole, causing aviation fuel to leak, though all nine people aboard escaped without injury.
In July 2019, a pilot crash-landed in woods near the airport after running out of fuel on approach from Indianapolis. The pilot, flying an Icon Aircraft A5 amphibious plane, walked away unscathed despite extensive damage to the aircraft.
The airport, which opened in 1926 as Gauthier’s Flying Field, was renamed Chicago Executive Airport in October 2006. It features a Customs and Border Protection facility that was named the 2022 General Aviation Airport Architectural Project of the Year by the American Association of Airport Executives.
As the investigation continues and emergency crews work to clear the scene, travellers are advised to check with their airlines or flight operators for the latest information on departures and arrivals. The airport’s main runway configuration includes runway 16/34 at 5,001 feet, runway 12/30 at 4,415 feet, and runway 6/24 at 3,677 feet.
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