The 2026 One Chicago crossover event between Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Chicago PD saw several crucial developments take place across the three dramas, including the unfortunate demise of a fan-favorite character. With the airplane mishap in the episode resulting in Macy’s death, Chicago Fire showrunner Andrea Newman has provided insight into why the beloved firefighter had to die.

Andrea Newman says Macy’s death was important for Stella’s growth

The veteran writer recently revealed that the team decided to kill off Macy in order to add to the character of Stella Kidd.

“It definitely affects Stella,” Andrea Newman said of Macy’s death while speaking with Parade. “We had done a story earlier about Macy being the first Girls on Fire candidate to go to the Academy and come out as a firefighter. So, she represents a lot for Stella, for Stella’s decisions in terms of Girls on Fire, in terms of supporting these young women going into the fire department.”

Notably, in the One Chicago crossover episode, the firefighting trio of Macy, Cruz, and Holt learn of an airplane that had recently landed. However, with no response from inside, the three decide to investigate. They soon learn that an unknown chemical agent had resulted in the death of all passengers.

Exposure to the mysterious substance also affects the responders, forcing them to check in at the Chicago Med hospital. Macy appears to have stabilized initially, only for her condition to falter drastically. Soon, she begins struggling for breath and, despite the best efforts of the doctors, ends up dying on the treatment table.

“Macy’s symbolic in a lot of ways,” Newman remarked, adding, “That’s why I felt she was the right one to [die] to have Stella have to struggle with the aftermath of [her death]. She definitely does, but she does it in the way that Kidd always does things, which is she’s become a real leader and a lieutenant, so she knows that it’s not just her that she has to get through these moments; it’s all of her people underneath. So, yeah, she’ll struggle going forward with it, but she’ll also help other people who are struggling with it, too.”