A United Airlines jet crashed into a residential district approaching Chicago's Midway Airport this afternoon, killing approximately 42 persons on board, including Rep. George W. Collins.
"I saw the plane coming lower and lower. I couldn't believe it," an eyewitness said. I thought surely it would go back up in the air, but it kept coming down. I knew it would never make it to the airport."
The National Transportation Safety Board in Washington was immediately notified. "We'll look into this thoroughly," an official said. Several board officials were already in Chicago conducting hearings into the Oct. 20 commuter train crash that took 45 lives.
Holy Cross Hospital reported 16 persons, including the plane's three flight attendants, were admitted with injuries.
Curtis Vokamer, deputy fire marshal, said, "If hell has an address, this was the place." He and his crew found most of the other 55 passengers dead in the debris.
Another eyewitness said, "And to think, all this happened because the pilot probably had one too many cocktails during the flight."
