In Nashville, Tennessee, an Alaska Airlines flight was preparing for takeoff when it had to abruptly stop to avoid a potential collision with a Southwest Airlines plane on Thursday. Fortunately, no injuries were reported from the incident that involved Alaska Airlines Flight 369 bound for Seattle, carrying 176 passengers and six crew members. Alaska Airlines confirmed that the pilots took quick action to apply the brakes due to a runway traffic conflict.
Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the situation. The FAA stated that the Southwest Airlines Flight 2029 had clearance to cross the runway in front of the Alaska flight. Southwest Airlines shared that they are in communication with the FAA and NTSB and are fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation to prioritize passenger and crew safety.
As a result of the halted takeoff, the Alaska Airlines plane experienced tire deflation due to the heat generated from the sudden stop on the runway. The flight was rescheduled for Thursday evening using a different aircraft after the necessary arrangements were made. The NTSB specified the aircraft involved as an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 and a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-300.
This incident follows a recent event where two Delta Air Lines planes collided on a taxiway at Atlanta’s airport, causing damage to the tail of a smaller regional jet. Despite the alarming nature of the situation, no injuries were recorded from the collision.