FAA investigating extremely close call between 2 Southwest planes in Nashville

The Federal Aviation Administration is currently investigating a potentially catastrophic incident that occurred at Nashville International Airport involving two Southwest Airlines flights. The planes involved in the incident were dangerously close to each other, with only 500 feet of vertical separation at their closest point, as reported by FlightRadar24.

The incident took place around 5:30 p.m. on a Saturday when Southwest Flight 507 was preparing to land in Nashville amidst strong winds. The pilots of the flight decided to execute a precautionary go-around due to the adverse weather conditions. During this maneuver, the pilots received instructions from air traffic control that inadvertently placed the plane in the trajectory of another Southwest flight that was taking off from a parallel runway, according to the FAA.

Both sets of pilots on the two Southwest planes promptly responded to onboard alerts, indicating the seriousness of the situation. Retired Marine Col. Steve Ganyard, an ABC News contributor, explained that multiple alarms can sound in the cockpit during such scenarios, with the most critical alarm notifying the pilots of an impending collision course and urging them to take immediate action to avoid a potential disaster.

Fortunately, Flight 507 was able to land safely after the go-around, while Flight 1152 proceeded with its takeoff without any further incidents, as confirmed by Southwest Airlines. The airline expressed its gratitude for the professionalism displayed by its pilots and flight crews in handling the situation, emphasizing that the safety of both customers and employees is paramount.

The close call between the two Southwest Airlines flights serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of adherence to strict safety protocols and effective communication between air traffic control and flight crews to prevent potentially catastrophic incidents in the aviation industry. Swift and decisive actions taken by the pilots in response to onboard alerts played a crucial role in averting a potentially disastrous outcome in this particular situation.