Winter in Chicago usually means bracing for lake-effect snow or complaining about the CTA. But on December 17, 2025, the conversation shifted to something much heavier. Around 1:50 p.m., a Piper PA-30 crashed shortly after taking off from DuPage Airport in West Chicago. It wasn't a massive commercial jet, but for the local community and the families of the two men on board, it was every bit as devastating.
Honestly, when you hear "plane crash in Chicago 2025," your mind probably jumps to a Boeing or an Airbus at O'Hare. We've seen plenty of close calls there lately. Just last January, an American Airlines 737 clipped a United 787 while taxiing. Then in October, another United wingtip sliced through a horizontal stabilizer. Ground collisions are becoming weirdly common, but they rarely end in fatalities. This West Chicago crash was different.
It was fatal.
The DuPage Airport Incident
The aircraft involved was a twin-engine Piper PA-30. It’s a reliable enough light plane, often used for training or private travel. According to the FAA, the plane went down near the border of DuPage and Kane counties. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft struggle to maintain altitude before it crashed into a snow-covered area near the runway.
Two men were on board. Neither survived.
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By 3:30 p.m., the scene was a swarm of emergency lights. About a dozen vehicles from the West Chicago Fire Department and local police surrounded the wreckage. If you saw the helicopter footage from ABC 7, the damage was brutal—the front end of the plane was essentially crushed. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) were on the ground by the next morning, digging through the snow and the twisted metal to figure out if it was a mechanical failure or something else entirely.
Understanding the Risks of a Plane Crash in Chicago 2025
Chicago has some of the most congested airspace in the world. Between O'Hare, Midway, and a dozen regional airports like DuPage and Executive, there is a lot of metal moving through the sky at any given time.
You've gotta wonder: is it getting more dangerous?
The data from 2025 suggests a mixed bag. On one hand, we aren't seeing the catastrophic mid-air collisions of decades past. On the other, "runway incursions" and ground incidents are spiking. In February 2025, a Southwest jet at Midway had to abort a landing at the last second because a private jet crossed the runway without clearance.
That could've been a disaster.
The NTSB focuses on three things during these investigations: the pilot, the machine, and the environment. In the West Chicago case, the "environment" part includes the biting December cold. Iing is a massive factor for small planes. If a pilot doesn't clear the wings properly or the de-icing systems fail, the plane basically becomes a lead weight.
Close Calls at O'Hare
While the DuPage crash was the most tragic event of the year, O'Hare had its own share of "hold your breath" moments.
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- January 8, 2025: American Flight 1979 (a 737) hit the tail of United Flight 219 (a 787). No injuries, but 293 people on that United flight had their trip to Honolulu ruined.
- October 17, 2025: A United 737 from Jackson Hole clipped a parked 767. Again, no injuries, but passengers reported a "shuddering" feeling as the planes were pulled apart.
It feels like the ground crews and pilots are just exhausted. When you have eight active runways like O'Hare does, the margin for error is razor-thin.
Small Planes vs. Commercial Jets
Most people don't realize that "general aviation"—your Cessnas and Pipers—is where the majority of accidents happen. Commercial flying is incredibly regulated. Private flying? It’s more like driving a car. You have more freedom, but you also have more ways to mess up.
The December crash involved a PA-30, which is a "Twin Comanche." These are older planes. Many of them were built in the 60s and 70s. While they are maintained strictly, they don't have the automated safety nets that a modern Boeing 787 has. If one engine fails on takeoff in a small twin-engine plane, the pilot has to react perfectly in seconds.
Basically, there’s no room for a "bad day" at the office when you're flying a Piper out of West Chicago.
What to Do If You're Worried About Flying
Look, it's easy to get spooked by the headlines. A plane crash in Chicago 2025 sounds like a reason to stay on the ground. But honestly? You're still statistically safer in a plane than you are driving on I-290.
If you find yourself getting anxious, here’s what actually helps:
- Check the equipment: If you're flying private or charter, ask about the maintenance logs. Real pilots don't mind the questions; they actually appreciate a passenger who cares about safety.
- Watch the weather: In Chicago, "marginal" weather is the norm. If the ceiling is low and the wind is gusting over 30 knots, maybe don't take that flight in a small prop plane.
- Trust the NTSB: Their "Bluebook" reports are public. If you want to know why a specific crash happened, wait for the final report. It usually takes 12 to 18 months, but they don't guess. They prove it.
The investigation into the December 17 crash is still technically open. We know the plane hit the ground hard. We know two people are gone. What we don't know yet is if the pilot was fighting an engine issue or if the Chicago wind simply got the better of a small aircraft.
Next steps if you're following this story: keep an eye on the NTSB's preliminary accident database. They usually post a factual summary within 15 days of an event. You can also monitor the FAA’s "Safety Briefing" for updates on new regulations regarding runway safety at O'Hare and Midway, as those 2025 ground collisions are likely to trigger some changes in how taxiing is handled in the Windy City.