abcnews.com about 20 hours ago URGENCY: 6/10

FAA Investigates Near Collision of Southwest Flights

The FAA is probing a shocking near-miss between two Southwest Airlines flights. Discover how close they came to disaster and what it means for air travel safety.

FAA Investigates Near Collision of Southwest Flights

Close Call at Nashville Airport

An alarming incident occurred at Nashville International Airport involving two Southwest Airlines flights. At their closest point, the planes were just 500 feet apart vertically, prompting an immediate investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The event unfolded around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday when Southwest Flight 507 was preparing to land amid gusty winds. The pilots executed a precautionary go-around, but air traffic control inadvertently directed them into the path of another Southwest flight taking off from a parallel runway. Fortunately, both flight crews responded swiftly to onboard alerts, averting a potential disaster.

  • Key details of the incident include:
    • Vertical separation of only 500 feet
    • Pilots received critical cockpit alarms
    • Both flights landed and took off safely

Southwest Airlines commended its pilots and flight crews for their professionalism during this tense situation, emphasizing that safety remains their top priority.