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Report: Near-Crashes On O'Hare Runways

CHICAGO (CBS/WBBM) -- A new report by the Federal Aviation Administration says O'Hare International Airport has had several close calls that could have resulted in fatal air crashes.

As WBBM Newsradio 780's Bernie Tafoya reports, the Chicago Tribune's John Hilkevitch reported Monday morning that in the incidents over the past several years, the planes have nearly run out of runway space to take off or land, or have almost hit construction equipment on runways at O'Hare.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Bernie Tafoya reports

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Construction and expansion is ongoing at the airport, as part of the controversial O'Hare Modernization Program.

The Tribune says the near-accidents were reported to the FAA.

In one incident, for example, a cargo plane needing a longer runway was given a choice of runways. But unbeknownst to the crew, the runway it had picked had been shortened by 4,000 feet because of construction, and the plane barely cleared a blast fence.

The potential for crashes has reportedly prompted the FAA to revise its daily alerts to pilots about airport conditions.

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