Two Southwest Airlines planes had a close call near Nashville International Airport on Saturday when one flight aborted its landing and entered the path of another aircraft taking off, resulting in a minimum separation of about 500 feet.
The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. local time as flight 507 from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was forced to execute a go-around due to gusty winds near the airport. Air traffic control instructed the pilots to turn right, which put the plane on a collision course with flight 1152, a Boeing 737 departing for Knoxville, Tennessee, from a parallel runway.
Both aircrafts’ Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS) issued commands to the pilots, who responded with evasive maneuvers to maintain safe separation. Preliminary flight data indicates the plane taking off essentially passed over the go-around flight with approximately 500 feet of vertical distance between them.
Despite the near miss, both flights landed safely at their intended destinations. Southwest Airlines praised the professionalism of the pilots and flight crews in managing the situation and emphasized that safety remains their highest priority.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it is investigating the event and acknowledged that air traffic control’s instructions placed flight 507 “in the path of another airplane.”
Why it matters
This event highlights air traffic control challenges at busy airports, particularly under adverse weather conditions, and underscores the critical role of TCAS as a final safeguard against midair collisions. Aviation safety experts stress that TCAS commands coordinate climbs and descents between conflicting aircraft to increase separation and prevent accidents.
Background
Go-arounds, or aborted landings, are routine procedures pilots use when a safe landing is not possible, often due to weather or runway occupancy. While uncommon, go-arounds increase the complexity of managing multiple aircraft near runways, requiring precise communication between controllers and flight crews. This incident adds to ongoing scrutiny of air traffic procedures to ensure flight safety at major hubs like Nashville International Airport.
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