Two Southwest Airlines Boeing 737s were forced to perform evasive maneuvers at Nashville International Airport on Saturday after a collision alert in the cockpit warned pilots that the two planes were too close.
Southwest Flight 507 from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, landed in gusty winds at the same time Southwest Flight 1152 took off from a parallel runway in Nashville, according to the airline.
When Flight 507 aborted its landing as a precaution, the aircraft was instructed to turn right, in the direction of another departing aircraft.
“The crew … received instructions from air traffic control to place the flight in the path of another aircraft,” the FAA said in a statement.
According to air traffic control audio captured by LiveATC.net, an alert called a “resolution advisory” sounded in both cockpits, instructing pilots to take evasive action.
According to tracking website Flightradar24, the two planes were flying across each other and were only about 500 feet apart at their closest point.
Flight 1152 continued to Knoxville, and Flight 507 made a second attempt to land safely in Nashville.
“We are cooperating with the FAA as part of the investigation,” a Southwest spokesman said. “Southwest appreciates the professionalism of its pilots and crew in responding to this incident. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees.”
The FAA is investigating the incident.
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