FAA Probes Runway Terror: Planes Nearly Collide in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board launched investigations Thursday into a harrowing near-collision at Nashville International Airport. Around 9:15 a.m. CT, Alaska Airlines Flight 369, a Boeing 737 Max 9 with 176 passengers and six crew, discontinued its takeoff roll on a runway as Southwest Airlines Flight 2029 was cleared to cross the same runway's end. The abrupt braking caused the Alaska jet's tires to blow, but all aboard escaped unharmed.[1] Exact proximity between the Boeing 737 Max 9 and Southwest's Boeing 737-700 remains under review, with the FAA withholding figures pending analysis. Southwest issued a statement affirming cooperation with investigators, emphasizing safety as its top priority. "Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees," the airline said.[1] This marks the 14th NTSB runway incursion probe involving commercial or for-hire flights since 2023, highlighting persistent air traffic control and pilot coordination challenges at busy U.S. hubs.[1] Recent incidents include a Learjet takeoff without clearance at Boston's Logan Airport on Monday, forcing a JetBlue jet into evasive maneuvers, and a February close call at Burbank's Bob Hope Airport between SkyWest and Mesa Airlines planes.[2] Aviation experts point to staffing shortages and outdated radar systems as contributors to the uptick. The NTSB's growing docket of these events has renewed calls for modernized infrastructure, though agencies report no systemic failures yet identified. Nashville's tower operations continue normally as data from flight recorders and radar feeds undergo scrutiny.[1][2] Passengers on the Alaska flight described the braking as jarring but credited the crew's swift action. "It felt like an emergency stop on the highway," one traveler recounted to local media. Federal probes typically span months, aiming to pinpoint miscommunications or procedural lapses before recommending fixes.[1]