A recent probe has uncovered a close call at Nashville airport, where two planes were directed to the same runway for takeoff, leading to a potentially dangerous situation. According to investigators, air traffic controllers gave clearance for an Alaska Airlines jet to begin its takeoff, while simultaneously instructing pilots of a Southwest Airlines jet to cross the same runway last month.
The pilots of the Alaska plane decided to abort their takeoff on September 12 at Nashville International Airport, applying the brakes so intensely that the tires deflated as a safety mechanism to prevent overheating. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries among the 176 passengers and crew on board the Alaska jet and the 141 passengers on the Southwest plane.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) provided a timeline of the incident in a brief preliminary report, stating that they are actively investigating the matter. Typically, the NTSB releases a probable cause for such incidents after thorough reviews.
During the incident, a controller instructed the Alaska crew to line up on runway 13 and await takeoff clearance. Shortly after, another controller directed the Southwest pilots to cross runway 13 en route to a different runway. Just 15 seconds later, the controller cleared the Alaska plane for takeoff, prompting the pilots to begin their departure down the runway before deciding to abort the takeoff.
The NTSB has collected data from conversations between pilots and controllers, as well as retrieving flight data recorders from both planes. Although the cockpit voice recorder from the Alaska Airlines jet was obtained, the recording from the Southwest plane was overwritten after it took off.
The agency revealed that all four tires on the main landing gear of the Alaska jet experienced deflation due to the abrupt braking manoeuvre. The investigation is ongoing to determine the exact sequence of events and any contributing factors that led to the close call at Nashville airport.
It is crucial for air traffic controllers and pilots to maintain clear communication and adherence to safety protocols to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew during air travel. The NTSB continues to investigate the incident to prevent similar occurrences in the future and improve aviation safety standards.