Austin, TX
Cessna, American Airlines 737 have mid-air close call; FAA investigating
The FAA is now investigating a previously unreported close call over the skies of Austin, Texas. An American Airlines 737 and a Cessna 182 came within approximately 350 feet of each other near the Austin airport Wednesday morning.
“Did you ever see him the second time around?” an air traffic controller can be heard asking the pilots of American Flight 2587 on air traffic control audio.
One of the pilots answered, “We saw him when he flashed us and flew right into us.”
The American flight was on approach from Chicago to land with 122 passengers and 6 crew on board when the two planes nearly crossed paths around 10:45 am local time. Flightradar24.com preliminary data puts the American flight about 350 feet above the Cessna 182 with them separated by less than 800 feet horizontally.
“If you want to declare a near miss let us know,” the controller told the pilots.
The FAA tells CBS News the Cessna “unexpectedly entered the flight path of American Airlines Flight 2587” prompting an alert in the Boeing cockpit and the pilots to take evasive action.
According to air traffic control audio posted by liveatc.net, the pilots of the American flight said they were responding to an “RA” or Resolution Advisory signal from the plane’s Traffic Collision Avoidance System known as TCAS. A TCAS warning is among the last lines of defense to avoid a mid-air collision. Pilots are encouraged to respond to an RA within five seconds.
The FAA says when the American pilots responded to that TCAS advisory they turned towards a third plane, a small private jet, resulting in a loss of separation between those two. That prompted air traffic controllers to urgently direct that plane to change course: “6-pappa golf turn right 0-3-0 immediately,” and about 15 seconds later, “papa-golf traffic to your right, an American 737 do you have him in sight?”
American Flight 2587 landed safely a few minutes later. “American Airlines flight 2587 landed safely at AUS after completing a go-around,” said a spokesperson for the airline. “We thank our crew members for their professionalism and expertise and for always prioritizing safety above all else.”
Pilots could be heard on ATC audio discussing foggy conditions shortly before the close call.
The FAA says all three planes ultimately landed safely.
This comes just days after air traffic controllers in San Diego cleared a Southwest flight to cross a runway another Southwest flight was using to take off, putting the planes on a potential collision course before controllers ordered both planes to stop.
Tuesday the FAA announced an audit of runway incursion risk at the nation’s 45 busiest airports. The audit aims to identify any gaps in procedures, equipment and process. It will include a risk profile for each airport and recommendations to improve safety.
“While overall runway incursions are significantly down, even one incident is one too many,” the FAA said in a statement.
Wednesday was not the only close call in Austin.
Last February, a FedEx 767 was cleared to land while a Southwest 737 was still on the runway at the Austin airport in foggy conditions. The National Transportation Safety Board said the two planes came within 150-170 feet of each other before the FedEx first officer Robert Bradeen spotted the other plane.
“I saw a light that turned out to be the position light on the Southwest airplane and quickly saw the silhouette following that and called for a go around,” Bradeen told CBS News in his first interview with a broadcast television network last month. “There’s a moment of disbelief. ‘Am I really seeing this? Is this really an airplane right there?’ And then training and experience kick in.”
FedEx Captain Hugo Carvajal was at the controls of that Boeing 767 and immediately began to climb to avoid a potential collision.
“Without two people in this cockpit on our day it was an aircraft accident,” Carvajal said, adding both pilots were concerned when the controller cleared the Southwest flight while they were on final approach. “As soon as the tower cleared them to takeoff, we knew that there was an issue because we were, we were about three miles, which is too close at that point.”
The NTSB found the probable cause of this incident was “the local controller’s incorrect assumption that the Southwest Airlines airplane would depart from the runway before the Federal Express airplane arrived on the same runway, which resulted in a loss of separation between both airplanes.”
Sherman, Texas — Two Austin College students have been awarded Endowed Sumners Scholarships by The Sumners Foundation of Irving, Texas.
Maritza Maldonado 28 and Taylor Jones 28 each received $30,000 scholarships. Scholarships are awarded by the Foundation based on civic engagement, academic excellence, a capacity for leadership, and a desire to further our democracy.
Maldonado and Jones join Kat Stein 28 and Zara Shah 28 (previously named At-Large Sumners Scholars) as four of just 36 students nationally to receive a Sumners scholarship in 2026.
A sophomore majoring in Political Science and History, Maldonado is actively involved on campus as a member of the mock trial team, student assembly, and the Austin College Womens Soccer team. She plans to pursue a career as an immigration attorney.
This scholarship will support her academic journey while providing access to leadership programs and exclusive learning opportunities through the Sumners Foundation.
Jones is pursuing a double major in Political Science and Public Health with a minor in Data Science.
They are from Lewisville, Texas, are the Historian for Black Expressions, actively participates in the Pre-Law Society, and currently serves as a Sophomore Representative on Student Assembly. They also play bass clarinet and clarinet in Austin Colleges Wind Symphony and will study abroad in South Korea in the upcoming fall term. After graduation, they plan to pursue a masters degree in public policy and possibly a Juris Doctor to help positively influence policy-making with a data-informed background.
The Sumners Scholarship program has been at the core of the Sumners Foundations purpose since shortly after its inception in 1949. Our Scholars are selected from the very best students at colleges and universities after a rigorous interview process. To be selected as a Sumners Scholar is an honor that will remain with the Scholar throughout his or her lifetime, said Board Chairman Scott Higginbotham. Over the decades, Sumners Scholars have made significant contributions to their communities, their states, and America. Following in the footsteps of Congressman Hatton W. Sumners, the Foundation is pleased to support students striving to improve our political system, address societal challenges through crafting public policies based upon the fundamental principles of American democracy, educate all Americans about their civic obligations as citizens, and be active, productive members of our Republic.
Sumners Scholar alumni include such notables as U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, former Senior Deputy Attorney General of Oklahoma Dara Derryberry, Chairman of Matador Resources Joe Foran, former Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court Nathan Hecht, President of the University of Texas at Arlington Jennifer Cowley, and past Chancellor of the New Mexico Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church Charles L. Moore.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 45 schools profiled in Loren Popes influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.
MANOR, Texas — Multiple agencies are at the scene of a “major” crash on FM 973 in Manor.
Manor police reported the crash at around 4:48 a.m., saying that responders are on scene of a collision in the 11700 block of North FM 973 Road near Lagos Elementary School.
Police say the road is closed in both directions while officials work the scene.
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Manor PD, the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Texas DPS, Travis County ESD 12, and Austin-Travis County EMS are also at the scene, according to police.
CBS Austin has reached out to officials from the responding agencies for more information.
This is a developing story.
AUSTIN, Texas – A 28-year-old Austin woman who was reported missing earlier this week has been located, according to the Austin Police Department.
What we know:
Police announced Saturday that Ghadah Alharbi has been found following a public appeal for information about her whereabouts.
Alharbi was last known to have contacted family members by phone around 8 p.m. on June 16. Her disappearance was described by investigators as out of character, prompting concern from both her family and the Austin Police Department.
Authorities said she had left her vehicle at her residence in Central Austin near Mueller and was known to use ride-share services for transportation.
Dig deeper:
The Austin Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit had requested the public’s assistance in locating Alharbi on Friday, citing concerns for her well-being.
In an update released Saturday, police confirmed Alharbi had been located but did not provide additional details about where she was found or the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
Police thanked the community and media for their assistance and cooperation.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by Austin police.
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