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Chicago airport official falsified safety document after request from airline
A Chicago aviation department official falsified runway conditions at Chicago Midway Airport at the behest of an airline official, the city’s Inspector General says.
The IG report said a deputy commissioner of aviation knowingly changed the runway conditions report from ‘wet’ to ‘dry’ after getting a call at home from the airline official.
By changing the conditions to ‘dry’ an airline can put more passengers on planes and increase its yield.
The incident took place in 2018.
The report didn’t identify the airline but Crain’s Chicago Business reported it was Southwest Airlines.
The Chicago Sun-Times named the airport official as Costas Simos who was second in command at Midway Airport.
He retired recently before action was taken and was put on a do-not-rehire list.
Southwest denied its involvement in the incident.
"Southwest refutes any allegations it attempted to influence or exert any pressure on how airfield conditions were recorded at Midway Airport. Any implication that we would place anything above Safety is unfounded," the Dallas based carrier said.
Aviation department spokesman Matt McGrath said passenger safety was not compromised but the incident was still deemed a serious matter.
"CDA still took this issue seriously, and immediately referred it to the OIG’s office. In the meantime, all Midway airfield personnel have been retrained, airfield management responsibilities have been overhauled, and the individual involved has since left the department," he said.
by Ray Monrgomery, US editor
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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