Nashville, United States: A serious aviation incident involving two Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 aircraft near Nashville International Airport has prompted a federal investigation after the jets came within close proximity following an air traffic control error that placed them on conflicting flight paths.
The incident occurred as Southwest Flight 507, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 arriving from Myrtle Beach, initiated a go-around during its approach, while Southwest Flight 1152, a Boeing 737-700, was departing for Knoxville from a separate runway.
According to preliminary findings and air traffic control audio reviewed by investigators, a controller issued a turn instruction to the arriving aircraft that inadvertently directed it into the departure path of the other jet, creating an immediate loss of safe separation.
Air traffic control communications captured during the event indicate a rapidly escalating situation, with multiple instructions issued in quick succession, including climb directives that were later revised. In the cockpit, one of the pilots indicated the aircraft had already passed the point of conflict, reflecting how little time remained to resolve the situation through conventional means.
Both aircraft subsequently received alerts from the onboard Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), which generated coordinated Resolution Advisories.
The system instructed one aircraft to climb while directing the other to descend, allowing the crews to take immediate corrective action. Flight data suggests the jets of Southwest Airlines came within approximately 500 feet of each other, a distance considered a near midair collision under aviation safety standards.
Despite the severity of the encounter, both flights continued safely with no reported injuries. Early assessments point to air traffic control error as the primary factor, compounded by the complexity of simultaneous runway operations during a go-around. Weather conditions, including reported gusty winds in the Nashville area, may also have contributed to the challenging operating environment at the time.
The Federal Aviation Administration has launched a formal investigation and is expected to review controller actions, radar data, flight recordings, and adherence to separation protocols. Southwest Airlines stated that its flight crews responded in accordance with safety procedures and are cooperating fully with authorities.
On April 15, 2026, a near-collision occurred at Charlotte Douglas International Airport when an American Airlines aircraft was forced to abruptly brake on the taxiway after a truck crossed directly in front of it, narrowly avoiding impact.
The cockpit radio transmissions captured the crew reporting the close call to air traffic control. No injuries were reported, and the aircraft was able to continue and depart after a brief delay.
The incident occurred on the airport tarmac and has drawn attention to ground movement safety, coming shortly after a fatal aircraft-vehicle collision at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, emphasising ongoing concerns over coordination between aircraft and ground vehicles.
