According to sources close to the investigation, the rear/cone slide escape system, which somehow accidentally deployed in flight, shortly after the jet took off from Chicago, was manufactured by the Goodrich Corporation - Aircraft Interior Products, based in Phoenix Arizona.

The slide, according to sources close to the investigation, did not fully inflate inside the rear cone of the aircraft. ERS has learned that it has been removed and is being shipped to the manufacturer for further inspection by NTSB investigators and the company.  

Yesterday ERS reported that Obama’s charter MD-81 airplane had previously had repair issues with its rear emergency slides.  In the current online edition of “Popular Mechanics”, new questions were raised about just how “serious” this incident really was form Senator Obama and the passengers on the flight.

MD-80 Series Airplane - Rear Escape Chute Deployed

NTSB Chairman Rosenker has stated to the media that the incident "could potentially make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to fly the aircraft," and that the incident was “very serious.”  Midwest Airlines downplayed the incident, saying there was never any safety concerns for the safety of the passengers, including Senator Obama.

According to aviation sources familiar with the NTSB on-going investigation, photographs of the rear emergency slide in question and the circumstances of the incident will be disclosed in greater detail in a NTSB press conference on Thursday (7/10/08).

Before that happens, aviation sources tell ERSNews the U.S. Secret Service is being informed and briefed on the NTSB investigation because of the involvement of Senator Obama.

FIT TO FLY?

By Eric Longabardi

Allegations have also surfaced that the Jet was rushed through the certification process by FAA managers to meet a goal that would have provided those managers with financial bonuses.

Sources close to the investigation tell ERSNews, that the Eclipse 500 was certified in Texas, at the FAA’s Southwest Regional Office. The FAA’s office in Kansas City is where the FAA usually certifies small jets.  According to the FAA’s own website, that fact is true  “The Small Airplane Directorate in Kansas City, MO is responsible for developing and maintaining the regulatory standards and policy for type certification of small airplanes.”  Why the Eclipse 500 was certified at a different office is part of what the IG may be looking at according to sources close to the investigation.  The office in Fort Worth, Texas, according to the FAA’s own website, is responsible for certifying helicopters only.

The plane was previously used by 2004 democratic presidential candidate John Kerry during his unsuccessful run for president.

The aircraft, tail numbered N804ME took off from Chicago’s Midway airport just before 10AM central time.  The pilot reported having trouble maintaining the airplane’s nose at the proper angle during flight.  

Midwest Airlines issued a statement stating that an emergency chute was accidentally deployed in the tail cone. According to the airline the plane was never in any serious safety trouble.

What Midwest didn’t tell the media was that this particular airplane has had previous problems with the rear emergency chutes.  In 1999 the plane had four service difficulty reports filed related to the escape chutes in the rear of the plane.  Calls to Midwest Airlines by ERSNews were not returned prior to publication of this story.

Those specific problems with the emergency slides along with a myriad of other mechanical problems with the plane are detailed in service difficulty reports (SDRs) as they are known in the aviation world.  The reports are filed with the FAA.  All 23 SDRs on the plane Obama was flying yesterday can be seen here on ERS News.

The airplane was purchased by Midwest Airlines in late 1990’s. It had previously been operated by two Japanese airlines:  TOA and Japan Airlines.  The plane originally went into service in 1981.

Midwest Airlines put out this statement late Monday.

(Midwest Airlines)

"An emergency slide located in the tail cone of the plane deployed in flight. While there was never an issue as to the safety of the flight, as a precautionary measure, we decided to divert the plane to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, where it landed just before 10 a.m. CDT. We are in the process of making alternative travel arrangements for Senator Obama and his campaign."

The National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating, also issued this statement:

"At about 9:30 a.m. CDT this morning, a McDonnell Douglas MD-81 airplane (N804ME), operated by Midwest Airlines as Flight 8663, diverted to St. Louis, Missouri, during a flight from Chicago, Illinois to Charlotte, North Carolina," the statement said. "There were no injuries to the 48 passengers and crew." 

The NTSB statement said the post-flight inspection of the airplane revealed an in-flight deployment of the aft emergency exit slide within the tail cone.