The Gulfstream G150 jet that overshot a Chicago Executive Airport runway Wednesday was slowed down by a concrete emergency safety system, in foreground at right. Courtesy of Chicago Executive Airport

A concrete safety system slowed down a small jet that overshot a Chicago Executive Airport runway Wednesday and kept it from hurtling onto a nearby road, likely saving lives and preventing additional property damage, the Wheeling airport’s executive director said.

“The system did what it was supposed to,” Jeff Miller said.

Jeff Miller, the executive director of Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling, stands at the Engineered Material Arresting System that helped slow down a jet that overran Runway 1634 on Wednesday. The empty spaces behind him contained blocks that were damaged, as designed

See Full Page