Small plane slides off the runway at Chicago Executive Airport 4-2-20
July 03 03:05:16, 2025
On Thursday evening, just before 7 PM on April 2, 2020, firefighters and police from Wheeling and Prospect Heights were called to the Chicago Executive Airport following a reported plane crash. The airport tower informed responding units that a small aircraft with a single occupant had landed but was stuck in about two feet of water in a drainage ditch near the runway.
Wheeling Battalion 24 arrived first and found the pilot unharmed inside the plane, with no immediate hazards detected. Only local units from the affected district remained at the scene, while others stood by. The pilot managed to exit the aircraft on his own and signed a medical release form at the location. A single fire company stayed behind until a wrecker arrived to tow out the Cessna Skyhawk from the ditch.
Emergency response vehicles, including a Freightliner ambulance, were seen on site, along with a Rosenbauer America IHC/Timberwolf unit stationed on the runway. Local officials confirmed the situation was under control, and no injuries were reported. The incident highlighted the quick response and coordination between emergency services, ensuring the safety of all involved.