500 Feet Apart: Southwest Jets in Near Miss Over Nashville

Issue #710

April 20, 2026

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🌤 Columbia’s Tuesday Weather - Mostly sunny w/ high of 82, low of 50

📰 500 Feet Apart: Southwest Jets in Near Miss Over Nashville

📰 Mt. Pleasant High School and Santa Fe Unit School Earn Anne Dallas Dudley Award

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

500 Feet Apart: Southwest Jets in Near Miss Over Nashville

Two Southwest Airlines jets came dangerously close Saturday evening near Nashville International Airport after a landing attempt was called off during windy conditions.

Flight 507 from Myrtle Beach was approaching the airport around 5:30 p.m. when strong gusts prompted pilots to abort the landing and circle back. Air traffic control instructed the crew to make a right turn, a move that placed the aircraft in the flight path of another Southwest Boeing 737 that had just been cleared for takeoff on a parallel runway. The departing flight, 1152, was headed to Knoxville.

Onboard safety systems in both aircraft detected the potential conflict and issued automated commands directing the pilots to adjust their altitude. Early flight tracking data suggests the departing jet passed above the arriving aircraft with roughly 500 feet separating them vertically.

Both planes continued without further incident and landed safely at their destinations.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed it is investigating the event, noting that air traffic control instructions contributed to the aircraft being placed on intersecting paths.

Aviation experts point to the Traffic Collision Avoidance System, or TCAS, as a critical safeguard designed to prevent midair collisions by issuing coordinated climb and descent commands when aircraft come too close.

Mt. Pleasant High School and Santa Fe Unit School Earn Anne Dallas Dudley Award

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett and Senator Joey Hensley personally presented Mt. Pleasant High School and Santa Fe Unit School with the prestigious Anne Dallas Dudley Gold Level Award. Both schools were awarded for the third consecutive year on Friday, for helping to register 100 percent of their eligible students to vote… 73 for Mt. Pleasant and 23 for Santa Fe.

Mt. Pleasant Student ambassadors Brianca Divine, Emma King, and Devanie Benson were recognized for their work in the successful drive.

“73 students is an incredibly impressive number, and I couldn’t be prouder of the student ambassadors and school staff for understanding the power they hold in becoming a registered voter here in Tennessee,” said Secretary Hargett. “Their commitment to voter registration demonstrates their commitment to the community and is an example to others.”

Secretary Hargett also recognized Mt. Pleasant High School Principal Eric Hughes, Special Education Teacher Dr. Seth Campbell, Maury County Administer of Elections Chris Mackinlay, and Maury County Mayor Sheila Butt. Sen. Hensley and Representative Kip Capley received praise for being instrumental in helping to expand efforts to increase civic engagement across their districts.

Santa Fe’s Student ambassadors Mason Odom and Ethan Kincaid were recognized for their efforts in the successful drive.

“Seeing schools such as Santa Fe Unit School succeed for three consecutive years in registering student voters affirms my belief that the future of Tennessee is bright,” said Secretary Hargett. “The student ambassador’s commitment to their fellow students is laudable and an example for everyone in the community.”

Santa Fe Unit School Business Teacher Jan Thomason accepted the award on the school’s behalf. 

The Anne Dallas Dudley Awards are open to all Tennessee public, charter/private school, and home school associations. This award is named in honor of renowned Tennessee suffragist Anne Dallas Dudley, who helped lead the successful effort to ratify the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. On Aug. 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 36th and final state needed to give women the right to vote. 

For more information about the Anne Dallas Dudley Awards and other civic engagement efforts offered through the Secretary of State’s office, please visit sos.tn.gov/civics.   

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Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Tuesday, April 21st

Wednesday, April 22nd

Thursday, April 23rd

Friday, April 24th

Saturday, April 25th

Sunday, April 26th

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Tuesday, April 21
Songwriters Round - Whiskey Alley Saloon, 6–9 PM

Thursday, April 23
Todd Ciprian - Tito’s, 6–9 PM
Ashton Smith - Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:30–9 PM

Friday, April 24
Rett Stocstill & The Ministry of Fun - Buck & Board, 6–8 PM
Nick Bentley - Grinder’s Switch, 7–9 PM
Johnny Jameson & The Empty Pints - McCreary’s Irish Pub & Eatery, 7–9 PM
Ben Cannon - Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:30–9 PM
The Deltaz - Puckett’s, 7:30–9 PM
Wentzel Brothers Band - Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8–11 PM

Saturday, April 25
Ben Daniels - Keg Springs Winery, 2–5 PM
Crossbridges - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 3–7 PM
Writers Round - The Bourbon Gospel, 7:30 PM
Justin & Tab - Puckett’s, 7:30–9 PM
Marci Mitchell Band - The Boondox, 8 PM
MFT - Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8–11 PM

Sunday, April 26
Cliftones - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 1–5 PM
Jackie Saturday - Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 2–5 PM
Vintage Voltage - The Rebel Bar & Grill, 4–7 PM

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