Near Midair Collision Involving Southwest Airlines at Nashville Airport

On April 20, 2026, two Southwest Airlines Boeing 737s were involved in a near midair collision at Nashville International Airport. The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. when Southwest Flight 507, arriving from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was landing while Southwest Flight 1152 was departing for Knoxville. As Flight 507 approached for landing, it was instructed by air traffic control to turn right, inadvertently placing it in the path of Flight 1152. Both aircraft received collision alarms, prompting evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision, with the planes coming within approximately 500 feet of each other in altitude.

CNNTwo Southwest planes came dangerously close in Nashville, had to take evasive action

Flight 507 aborted its landing due to gusty winds and was directed to circle back. However, the air traffic controller's instructions led it into the flight path of Flight 1152, which had just taken off. Audio recordings from the incident revealed that both flight crews received alerts from their onboard collision avoidance systems, leading to one plane climbing and the other descending to avert a collision. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that both pilots acted on the alerts and instructions from air traffic control.

Two Southwest planes came dangerously close in Nashville, had to take evasive actionCNN

A spokesperson for Southwest Airlines, Lynn Lunsford, emphasized the importance of safety, stating, “Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees.” The FAA is currently investigating the incident to determine the exact circumstances and any potential procedural failures that may have contributed to the near miss.

Two Southwest planes came dangerously close in Nashville, had to take evasive action

The incident has raised concerns about air traffic control procedures, especially following a previous fatal collision involving an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter in January 2025. Critics argue that the FAA must reassess its protocols to prevent similar close calls, particularly as midair collisions, while rare, can have catastrophic consequences.

Two Southwest planes came dangerously close in Nashville, had to take evasive action

While both Southwest Airlines and the FAA confirmed the near miss, there is a lack of clarity regarding the exact altitude separation between the two aircraft during the incident. The FAA has not provided specific data on how close the planes were, and the investigation may reveal further details about the air traffic controller's actions leading up to the event.

Two Southwest planes came dangerously close in Nashville, had to take evasive actionCNN

The FAA's investigation will likely focus on the air traffic control instructions given to Flight 507 and the response of both flight crews. The outcome may lead to changes in operational procedures at Nashville International Airport and potentially across other airports to enhance safety measures against midair collisions.

CNN