Two Southwest Airlines jets came dangerously close to colliding just north of Nashville International Airport late Saturday afternoon, according to a NewsChannel 5 investigation into flight data and air traffic control recordings.
The incident involved a Southwest Boeing 737 Max 8 and a Southwest Boeing 737-700. According to the data, an air traffic controller inadvertently turned one aircraft into the flight path of the other, triggering collision avoidance alerts on both planes. Pilots in both jets took evasive action after their onboard Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS) issued Resolution Alerts.
Southwest Flight 507, a Max 8 traveling from Myrtle Beach to Nashville, had been cleared to land on Runway 2 Left. For reasons that remain unclear, the flight crew chose to execute a go-around rather than land. At the same moment, Southwest Flight 1152, a 737-700 departing for Knoxville, was rolling down Runway 2 Right, directly to the east.
Seconds after Flight 507 began its go-around, the controller directed it to turn right, placing it on a potential collision course with Flight 1152. Realizing the conflict, the controller quickly ordered Flight 507 to climb from 2,000 feet to 3,000 feet while instructing Flight 1152 to hold at 2,000 feet.
Flight 1152 responded, “We’re already past it.”
The controller replied, “He’s already in the turn. Flight 507, descend and maintain 2,000.”
Flight 507 acknowledged and descended. Shortly after, Flight 1152 reported being clear of the Resolution Alert, and Flight 507 confirmed it had responded to its own TCAS warning as well.
TCAS is a federally required safety system on all commercial aircraft. When a potential collision is detected, it typically instructs one plane to climb while directing the other to descend, giving crews a few critical seconds to react.
Federal Aviation Administration has been contacted for comment. The investigation is ongoing