FAA investigating close call between 2 Southwest planes in Nashville
USA Today • • nation
Key Points:
- The FAA is investigating a near-miss incident on April 18 in Nashville involving two Southwest Airlines jets that came within 500 vertical feet of each other during landing and departure maneuvers.
- Southwest Flight 507, arriving from Myrtle Beach, initiated a go-around due to gusty winds and was then directed by air traffic control into the path of departing Southwest Flight 1152 to Knoxville.
- Both flight crews received alerts from their traffic collision avoidance systems, and despite the close proximity, Flight 507 landed safely while Flight 1152 continued its journey without injuries reported.
- The FAA's investigation will assess compliance with a new rule requiring air traffic control to use radar to separate airplanes and helicopters, following a fatal collision in 2025 involving an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter.
- This incident follows a similar near-miss last month between a United Airlines plane and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Santa Ana, California, highlighting ongoing concerns about airspace safety and coordination.
