Boeing 737 accident near Chicago, Illinois, December 19, 2019
On December 19, 2019 at about 4:20 pm local time, a 2013 Boeing 737, registered N68802, was involved in an accident during taxi (to runway) near Chicago, Illinois (Chicago O'Hare Intl airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured; 184 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an abrupt stop during taxi to avoid a collision with another airplane, causing a flight attendant to fall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 19, 2019 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Chicago, Illinois · Chicago O'Hare Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 184 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737 924ER, built 2013 · all 737s on the register
- Registration
- N68802 · registry record · serial 42739
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On December 19, 2019, at approximately 1020 central standard time, United Airlines flight 2390, a B737-900ER, N68802, made an abrupt stop on the taxiway to avoid ground traffic at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (KORD), Chicago, Illinois. One flight attendant suffered a serious injury, and there were no injuries to the remaining 5 crewmembers and 179 passengers onboard. There was no damage to the airplane. The flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight from KORD to Portland International Airport, Portland, Oregon. According to the operator, the airplane was pushed back from the gate and was given instructions from Outbound Ground Control (OGC) to taxi to runway 28R by joining taxiway A. As UAL 2390 was proceeding to taxiway A, an Embraer 175 had landed and was in communication with the Inbound Ground Control (IGC), and was also instructed to proceed to taxiway A. The UAL 2390 flight crew stated they were given no instructions to follow or give way to other airplane. As UAL 2390 approached taxiway A, the flight crew noticed the E175 approaching from behind and to the left and stopped abruptly to avoid it. During the abrupt stop, a flight attendant preparing the cabin for departure fell and sustained a serious injury. UAL 2390 returned to the gate and medical personnel met the airplane to treat the injured flight attendant.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Cabin safety event during taxi (to runway) defining event
- Abrupt maneuver during taxi (to runway)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › (general) › (general) › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,003 hours in all; 12,575 in this make and model; 143 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 12,575 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 15, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,702 hours in all; 1,494 in this make and model; 184 in the last 90 days; 55 in the last 30 days; 1,494 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B27E (turbofan); 22,728 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B27E (turbofan); 22,728 hours total
- Operator: United Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: ORD Chicago IL
- Destination: PDX Portland OR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 12 knots, gusting 19
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Observation at 3:20 pm from KORD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | 3 | ||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 179 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 10, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.