About 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday, September 3 the Prospect Heights Fire District responded with the Wheeling Fire Department to a reported plane crash at Chicago Executive Airport.

A small jet aircraft privately owned went off the north end of the main runway striking the EMAS and then the chain link fence, stopping just shirt of Hintz Road.

On arrival it was quickly learned that neither of the two persons who were on the plane were injured and no fuel leak was seen. At this point, Prospect Heights' firefighters were no longer needed and the matter was left in the hands of the airport management with the Wheeling FD standing by until the plane could be removed.

Chicago Executive Airport is jointly owned by the City of Prospect Heights and the Village of Wheeling. For three decades, the Wheeling FD and PHFD have operated a joint response plan for aircraft emergencies. This incident is another example of how well that plan works and why it is needed.