Quick-Thinking Pilots Prevent Potential Disaster
Nashville, TN – A potentially catastrophic incident was narrowly avoided on Thursday morning at Nashville International Airport, as an Alaska Airlines plane averted a collision with a Southwest Airlines flight by deploying emergency brakes, resulting in blown-out tires.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the incident occurred at 9:15 am when Alaska Airlines Flight 369, preparing for takeoff, found itself on a collision course with a Southwest Airlines plane crossing the same runway.
Critical moments on the runway
As the Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 began to accelerate, its pilots noticed the Southwest flight intersecting their path. According to data from Flightradar24, the Alaska Airlines plane was traveling at a speed of 120 mph when the pilots decided to apply the brakes. The flight had been cleared for takeoff by air traffic control.
The Southwest Airlines plane was en route to Jacksonville, Florida, and had also received clearance to cross the runway, according to the FAA.
Investigations underway
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the incident, which could have had severe consequences. NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homendy expressed concerns, stating, “We are clearly very concerned about this (incident) and others we are investigating.”
Airline statement
In a statement, Alaska Airlines confirmed that their plane had received clearance to take off. “We have an update to pass along involving an incident this morning at Nashville International Airport. Alaska Airlines Flight 369 aborted takeoff due to a potential traffic conflict on the runway,” the airline wrote on its X handle. “The Alaska aircraft, on its way to Seattle, had received clearance to takeoff from Air Traffic Control.”
The airline commended its pilots for their swift and decisive actions, preventing what could have been a major disaster. “We’re grateful for the expertise of our pilots who immediately applied the brakes to prevent the incident from escalating,” the statement continued. “Our pilots train for these situations, and they handled the situation expertly.”
Aftermath and passenger safety
The rapid braking caused the tires of the Alaska Airlines plane, carrying 176 passengers and six crew members, to burst due to the built-up heat. “The crew taxied the aircraft off the runway and close to the terminal where the tires deflated due to buildup from the rapid stop on the runway, as designed,” the statement explained.
Passengers were safely transferred to another plane and continued their journey to Seattle without further incident.
The FAA and NTSB continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the near-miss, ensuring that such incidents are prevented in the future.