Two Southwest planes came dangerously close in Nashville, had to take evasive action
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Key Points:
- Two Southwest Airlines planes narrowly avoided a midair collision in Nashville after an air traffic controller instructed one pilot to turn into the path of the other, prompting evasive maneuvers guided by onboard collision avoidance systems.
- Flight data showed the planes came within approximately 500 feet of each other, meeting the official criteria for a near midair collision, although exact proximity will be determined after investigation.
- The incident occurred when one pilot aborted landing due to gusty winds and was directed by air traffic control to turn into the path of another plane taking off from a parallel runway.
- Both pilots responded to collision avoidance alerts by climbing and diving to prevent a collision, with the FAA currently investigating the controller's instructions and overall circumstances.
- Southwest Airlines praised the professionalism of its pilots and emphasized that safety remains their highest priority following the incident.
