Nashville, TN, April 21 - In a dramatic narrow escape over Nashville, two Southwest Airlines jets avoided a potential midair collision after an air traffic control error at Nashville International Airport. On Saturday afternoon, around 5:30 p.m., Southwest Flight WN507, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 arriving from Myrtle Beach, initiated a precautionary go-around amid gusty winds. As the aircraft climbed away from the runway, controllers issued instructions that inadvertently directed it toward the departure path of Southwest Flight WN1152, a Boeing 737-700 heading to Knoxville from a parallel runway. This sequencing mistake placed the two passenger-filled jets on a converging course, triggering urgent alerts in both cockpits and prompting swift evasive maneuvers by the experienced crews.
The incident unfolded just north of Nashville International Airport (BNA), where air traffic control coordinates complex operations involving parallel runways. Flight data and recordings show the departing aircraft had already begun its takeoff roll when the go-around jet turned into its projected path. At their closest point, the planes were separated by approximately 500 feet vertically, well below standard separation minima, creating a high-risk scenario in busy airspace. Pilots from both Southwest jets reported receiving resolution advisories from their onboard Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), which commanded one aircraft to climb and the other to descend immediately. These automated warnings, combined with professional pilot responses, prevented what could have been a catastrophic event involving hundreds of passengers and crew.
Southwest Airlines emphasized that safety remains its top priority, noting the crews' quick actions in complying with both air traffic control instructions and the collision avoidance alerts during the challenging wind conditions. The airline is fully cooperating with the ongoing FAA investigation into the ATC error, which highlights broader concerns about controller workload and procedural safeguards at major U.S. airports. No injuries were reported, and both flights continued safely: Flight 507 landed successfully on a subsequent approach, while Flight 1152 proceeded to its destination without further incident. Aviation experts view such near-miss incidents as critical reminders of the layered defenses, human vigilance, technology, and protocols that protect the skies.
This narrow escape over Nashville underscores the relentless demands on the national airspace system, where split-second decisions can determine outcomes in high-stakes environments. As the FAA reviews air traffic control communications and flight paths, the event serves as a case study in how modern aviation safety systems like TCAS can mitigate human error. Passengers flying Southwest Airlines or traveling through Nashville International Airport can take reassurance from the robust training and redundant safeguards that turned a potential disaster into a managed close call. Investigations like this contribute to continuous improvements, ensuring that millions of daily flights maintain the exceptional safety record that defines commercial aviation today.