Alaska Airlines flight aborts takeoff due to runway conflict at BNA

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — An Alaska Airlines flight was delayed after multiple tires were flattened before takeoff at Nashville International Airport (BNA) Thursday morning.

Passengers were seen departing the aircraft with the flattened tires while it was on a tarmac at BNA. Maintenance crews inspected the tires amid multiple airport police officers surrounding the plane.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told News 2 that Alaska Airlines Flight 369's crew discontinued their takeoff because Southwest Airlines Flight 2029 had been cleared to cross the end of the same runway.

During braking, officials said the Alaska Airlines crew reported blown tires. The incident, which happened around 9:15 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12, is under reportedly investigation by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

The Airport Authority has referred all inquiries to Alaska Airlines, which shared the following statement with News 2:

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 Alaska aircraft, on its way to Seattle, had received clearance for takeoff from Air Traffic Control.

We’re grateful for the expertise of our pilots who immediately applied the brakes to prevent the incident from escalating. We’re deeply sorry for the concerning experience this created for our guests and crew members. Thankfully, no injuries were reported by our guests or crew members.

Our pilots train for these situations and they handled the situation expertly. The crew taxied the aircraft off the runway and close to the terminal where the tires deflated due to heat buildup from the rapid stop on the runway, as designed. Our guests deplaned and made their way safely into the terminal. We’re deploying another aircraft to Nashville to transport our guests to Seattle; they’re scheduled to arrive later tonight.

There were 176 passengers and six crew members on board. Maintenance technicians in Nashville are currently inspecting the aircraft.

As of 4 p.m., BNA's website still had the status of Alaska Airlines Flight 369 to Seattle as delayed.

No additional information has been released about this incident.