Additional Coverage:
- FAA investigates Southwest near miss after air traffic control sends jets on collision course (foxnews.com)
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently investigating a close-call incident involving two Southwest Airlines flights at Nashville International Airport. The near-miss occurred Saturday evening when one aircraft was directed into the path of another during a go-around maneuver.
The incident took place around 5:30 p.m. as Southwest Flight 507 was approaching Nashville for landing. The flight crew initiated a go-around-a routine procedure where pilots abort a landing and climb for another approach. However, during this maneuver, air traffic control instructed Flight 507 into the path of Southwest Flight 1152, which was departing simultaneously from a parallel runway.
Both flight crews received onboard traffic alerts and took appropriate action to avoid a potential collision, according to the FAA. While details remain preliminary, the agency is continuing its investigation to determine the exact circumstances.
Southwest Airlines described the go-around as a precautionary response to gusty weather conditions at the airport. In a statement, the airline confirmed that the pilots followed air traffic control instructions and responded to onboard alerts to maintain safe separation.
Flight 507 later landed safely in Nashville, and Flight 1152 proceeded to Knoxville, Tennessee. No injuries were reported.
Though the FAA has not disclosed precise distances between the aircraft, flight tracking data suggests the planes came within roughly 500 feet of each other-meeting the criteria for a near midair collision.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns over near-miss events at U.S. airports, especially when aircraft operate on parallel runways. Effective communication and coordination between pilots and air traffic controllers remain vital to ensuring safety in such complex environments.
Southwest Airlines is cooperating fully with federal investigators and reaffirmed its commitment to safety as the highest priority. The FAA’s investigation will continue as officials review all available data to prevent similar occurrences in the future.