Two planes narrowly avoided a disaster on the tarmac at Nashville International Airport Thursday morning. Alaska Airlines Flight 369 burst its tyres to prevent a collision with Southwest Airlines Flight 2029 on the runway around 9:15 a.m., as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Flightradar24 data showed the Alaska Airlines plane was moving at 120 mph when the pilot applied the brakes. The flight had received clearance from air traffic control.
As the 737 Max 9 began to taxi and accelerate, the Alaska Airlines pilots aborted the takeoff upon spotting a Southwest Airlines plane crossing the same runway. This Southwest Airlines plane, scheduled to fly to Jacksonville, Florida, was also cleared by air traffic control to cross the runway. Federal officials are now investigating the close call.
NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homendy expressed serious concern about this incident and other ongoing investigations. She also raised questions about a new technology that was supposed to be operational at Nashville International Airport by July. The FAA had announced in July that new runway safety technology would be installed at four airports nationwide, including Nashville International.
The NTSB is investigating after a close call between an Alaska Airlines plane and a Southwest Airlines plane on the runway at a Nashville airport. @giobenitez has more details. pic.twitter.com/FSKOWsWSgx
— Good Morning America (@GMA) September 13, 2024
FAA officials did not confirm whether the technology, named Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI), was in use during the near-miss. The SAI is designed to “reduce the risk of runway incursions” by providing controllers with accurate depictions of aircraft and vehicles on the airfield in all weather conditions, according to FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker.
Chairman Homendy indicated that determining whether SAI was operational and if any warnings were triggered is a primary question in her investigation. Both Southwest and Alaska Airlines have pledged to cooperate fully with the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.
The 176 passengers and six crew members on the Alaska Airlines flight were transferred to another plane after theirs was grounded. Earlier this week, Southwest Airlines experienced a drop in stock price following the announcement that six board members would leave in November, though CEO Robert Jordan will remain.
What Other Media Are Saying
- CBS News reports that an Alaska Airlines flight aborted takeoff at Nashville International Airport to avoid colliding with a Southwest Airlines plane. The incident occurred due to a potential traffic conflict on the runway, with no injuries reported.(read more)
- NBC News reports on an Alaska Airlines flight aborting takeoff at Nashville International Airport due to a Southwest Airlines flight crossing the same runway, resulting in the Alaska plane’s tires bursting, and all passengers safely exiting the aircraft.(read more)
- Washington Post reports that an Alaska Airlines flight aborted takeoff in Nashville to avoid a potential collision with a Southwest Airlines plane, with no injuries resulting.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What happened at Nashville International Airport involving Alaska and Southwest Airlines?
Two planes narrowly avoided a collision when Alaska Airlines 369 aborted takeoff to avoid Southwest Airlines Flight 2029.
Why did Alaska Airlines 369 abort its takeoff?
The Alaska Airlines plane aborted takeoff to avoid a collision with a Southwest Airlines plane crossing the same runway.
Was the new runway safety technology in use during the incident?
It’s unclear if the Surface Awareness Initiative was in use; it is a primary question in the investigation.
What did the FAA say about the new runway safety technology?
The FAA said the Surface Awareness Initiative is meant to reduce the risk of runway incursions.
What will happen to the passengers of Alaska Airlines 369?
The 176 passengers and six crew members were moved to another plane after their aircraft was taken out of commission.
