FAA data: Wisconsin airport runways see 20 close calls per year

FAA data: Wisconsin airport runways see 20 close calls per year

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Data from the Federal Aviation Administration indicates there have been dozens of close calls on airport runways in Wisconsin throughout the past 13 years.A report by Gannett Wisconsin Media determined pilots have averted disaster 272 times at 12 of the state's airports, an average of about 20 times each year, since October 2001.

Suspicious object discovered on Delta flight headed to Atlanta from Milwaukee; plane returns to gate

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Delta Airlines tells FOX6 News Delta Flight 1874 from Milwaukee to Atlanta had to return to the gate at General Mitchell International Airport on Wednesday evening, November 19th after a suspicious object was found in a seat as the plane was taxiing out.Delta says all of those on board were de-planed, and authorities responded to the aircraft.The plane was able to take off shortly before 7:30 p.m. after it was cleared.Delta says it is assisting authorities in the investigation.

Casket cart for fallen heroes dedicated, presented to Southwest Airlines

Casket cart for fallen heroes dedicated, presented to Southwest Airlines

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A Vietnam veteran presented Southwest Airlines on Tuesday, October 28th with a specialty casket cart intended to transport fallen heroes to their final resting place.The specialized cart is meant to honor those who risked their lives to protect freedom here in the U.S.The dedication ceremony for the cart took place at Mitchell International Airport."There's an old saying that some soldiers gave some, which would be myself, and there's others who gave all, which would be their lives, so this is the least we can do to honor them," Vietnam veteran Richard Kalashian said.CLICK HERE to learn much more about how the casket cart came to be.

Plane takes off from Mitchell International and is turned around & sent back

Plane takes off from Mitchell International and is turned around & sent back

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Mitchell International Airport officials tell FOX6 News a United Express plane had to be turned around and sent back to Mitchell after taking off on Monday, October 13th.We're told the United Express Flight 4580 was headed for Newark -- and was turned around due to a possible mechanical issue.

"Benefit Cosmetics" automated vending kiosk installed at Mitchell International Airport

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Milwaukee County’s General Mitchell International Airport is now offering a new retail option for travelers on the go: a "Benefit Cosmetics" automated vending kiosk has been installed on Concourse C.Benefit Cosmetics, based in San Francisco, is one of the fastest growing cosmetics companies in the world.

More airline passengers are choosing Mitchell International Airport in 2014

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- For the eight consecutive month, Mitchell International Airport recorded an increase in passenger traffic, according the officials from the airport.A news release from the airport says passenger traffic for the year has totaled 4,515,724 through the end of August.

Passenger dies after landing at General Mitchell International Airport

MILWAUKEE (WITI) --  A 46-year-old man died after arriving on a flight at General Mitchell International Airport just before 3 p.m. Saturday, October 4th.Deputies responded to an alert of a Southwest Airlines passenger who was unresponsive and had stopped breathing.The plane landed at 3:00 p.m., and the man was taken off the plane onto the jet way where he was treated by GMIA Fire Rescue and Milwaukee Fire Department personnel.The man was pronounced dead shortly before 3:30 p.m. He has been identified as Mark Hensiak of Milwaukee.Sheriff’s Office detectives are conducting the death investigation.

"We're not going to miss the trip, we're just delaying it basically:" O'Hare fire impacts Milwaukee travelers

"We're not going to miss the trip, we're just delaying it basically:" O'Hare fire impacts Milwaukee travelers

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- For the past several hours on Friday, September 26th, Mitchell International Airport is nearly empty, but it was a much different case earlier today.A frustrating day, that continued to get worse."They just made an announcement, everything is canceled," said traveler, Bill Lubach.Hundreds of travelers coming and going from Mitchell International Airport, are forced to make other plans."I guess I have to find my luggage and go home and hopefully they can book me in the next few days," said Mary Katzer, traveler.The problem is miles away, a fire at an FAA facility in suburban Chicago is to blame.

7th graders get a behind-the-scenes tour of Mitchell International Airport

7th graders get a behind-the-scenes tour of Mitchell International Airport

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Many 7th graders like Kyra Aguillard have never been in an airport let alone an airplane, but that is no longer the case."I think this is really cool and it's awesome to get to see the pilots and the planes and to actually look inside and get behind the scenes," said Aguillard.The students from Victory School were invited to Mitchell International Airport by Southwest Airlines.They're kicking off the Council of Small Business Executives, or COSBE's "Be the Spark Education Tours.""We believe that the process needs to start with young folks like yourself having the opportunity to see the wide variety of careers that are available," said COSBE Executive Director Mary Steinbrecher.Throughout the school year COSBE will set up 25 MPS schools with tours of 25 businesses to get kids thinking about their future career path and connecting what they're learning in school to various jobs."Today you're going to see all of the inner workings and things that happen behind the scenes and get a chance to see all the things that you're learning in math, and science, and even in your reading classes really apply to the real world," said MPS Acting Superintendent Darienne Driver.Students got to go through security checkpoints, walk on the tarmac, and even go into the cockpit."A lot of buttons and gadgets and seats and there are a lot of buttons," said 7th grader Victor Hudson.Inspiring Aguillard to want to join the airline industry."I think I would try to be a pilot to actually fly.

Electricial smell in cockpit prompts Southwest captain to declare emergency

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A Southwest Airlines flight from Orlando, Florida to Milwaukee landed safely -- but only after an electrical smell in the back of the plane prompted the jet's captain to declare an emergency.A call came into Mitchell International Airport shortly after 10 a.m. on Sunday, August 17th for a possible mechanical problem.

Get to your gate quicker: Mitchell Intl. Airport has new baggage screening facility

Get to your gate quicker: Mitchell Intl. Airport has new baggage screening facility

MILWAUKEE  (WITI) -- A maze of what appears to be a complicated system of conveyor belts, is actually making your trip to Mitchell International Airport easier."We have a beautiful airport and this is a very, very exciting time for Milwaukee," said Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele.In previous visits to the airport, you may have noticed seven giant luggage screening machines taking up part of the ticketing area.But now it's all done behind the scenes using a new In-Line Baggage Screening Facility."The best news for passengers here at Milwaukee is they can now hand off their luggage at the airline ticket counter instead of taking them to multiple explosive detective machines throughout the ticketing lobby," said Assistant Federal Security Director Robert Ronge.The bags are sent from the ticket counter conveyor belt into the new 24,000 square foot building where they're automatically screened.There are four machines that can each screen 750 bags per hour.If the bags don't pass the initial inspection, they're sent to a separate room to be examined by TSA officials."In addition, the system provides on-screen resolution capabilities for those security officers which reduces the number of re-scans and physical searches we have to conduct," said Ronge.It also reduces injuries, as there is new equipment that will lift the bags for TSA agents.And airport officials say the project didn't use any property tax dollars."TSA contributed about $21 million of that $30 million price tag that has been mentioned and $9 million has been contributed by the airport facility, and all of the state partners here at the airport," said Ronge.

Infestation: How is the Days Inn near airport dealing with bed bugs?

Infestation: How is the Days Inn near airport dealing with bed bugs?

OAK CREEK (WITI) -- There is a continued quest to try to get rid of some unwanted guests that have taken up residence at a popular hotel near Milwaukee's airport!The Days Inn near General Mitchell International Airport is dealing with an infestation of bed bugs.On Tuesday, May 13th, a few employees walked off the job in protest of the problem --and city leaders are talking about what can be done to solve it."It's Tuesday and we still haven't seen anybody coming out here to take care of these rooms since Friday," Jason Haberman said.Haberman is a maintenance technician at the hotel that has about a dozen rooms with bed bugs.Haberman says he had hoped other employees would join him for a walkout on Tuesday morning in protest of how the situation is being handled, but there were few takers."A lot of them are scared of losing their jobs, which is understandable because they have families to support," Haberman said.Dennis Hargrove is a guest at the hotel.