In the recording obtained by WFLD FOX Chicago News, air traffic controllers can be heard telling the Southwest Airlines pilots before they land that braking action on the runway is "fair to poor."
A short time later, there's a garbled sound and a flight controller says excitedly, "What was that?" The Southwest 12-48
pilot then says twice in a steady voice that the plane went off the runway and he requests assistance.
After arriving from Baltimore., the plane went off the runway and into a street, crushing a vehicle and killing a six-year-old boy inside.
USA Today reported last week that its own analysis found the runway conditions were "poor at best." Midway officials said the runway conditions were "good." Midway spokeswoman Wendy Abrams said last week the airport used two federally approved machines to measure runway conditions that night.
WJZ Baltimore
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