Pilots on a Southwest Airlines flight attempting to land at Chicago’s Midway Airport were forced to make the plane climb suddenly to avoid another aircraft crossing the runway

Nearly 4.1 million Illinoisans will be hurtling down the highway or charging into the airport between Nov. 26 and Dec. 2 — an increase of 63,275 from last year, AAA reports.

The convergence of spring break and Holy Week means packed terminals at O’Hare and Midway international airports, the Chicago Department of Aviation reports.

A former Southwest Airlines customer-service agent is being charged with fraud. Federal prosecutors say he issued nearly $1.9 million in travel vouchers and sold them.

A winter storm moving into the area is expected to bring less snow than initially forecast, but more than 300 flights have been canceled at Chicago's two major airports.

A Midway International Airport worker. A doctor who assists women with abortions. The head of a service for homeless individuals. All three are among guests invited by members of Illinois’ congressional delegation to attend President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address.

The Federal Aviation Administration is lifting a ground stop on flights across the U.S. following a computer outage early Wednesday

Hundreds of flights have already been canceled at O’Hare and Midway airports, and more cancellations are expected throughout the day, as the area braces for a severe winter storm expected to bring blizzard-like conditions.

Midway’s heaviest day will be Tuesday, Dec. 27, with a 26% spike in passengers over the this holiday season compared to 2021. O’Hare will see a 4.7% passenger increase over last year.