NASHVILLE— A Delta Air Lines (DL) flight was forced to abort its takeoff at Nashville International Airport (BNA) last week to avoid a collision with a small aircraft, NewsChannel 5 reports. The near-miss occurred when a single-engine Piper Cherokee re-entered the active runway, prompting urgent intervention from air traffic controllers.
Delta Flight DL2724, scheduled to depart for Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) had already begun its takeoff roll when controllers spotted the potential hazard. The Delta pilots executed a rapid and hard stop, preventing a possible disaster on Runway 20R.
Photo: Aero Icarus | FlickrDelta A321 Aborts Takeoff
Delta Airlines Flight 2724, operated with an Airbus A321, received clearance to depart Nashville (BNA) around 10:05 a.m. local time on July 10, 2025.
As the aircraft accelerated for takeoff, air traffic control noticed that a Piper Cherokee, which had just landed from Rogersville, Tennessee, was taxiing incorrectly—turning left instead of the instructed right onto taxiway Kilo.
Upon detecting the hazard, the air traffic controller quickly canceled Delta’s takeoff clearance via radio. The Delta pilot acknowledged the directive, executing an immediate halt. A passenger onboard described the maneuver as “a hard stop,” according to NewsChannel 5.
This was not the first such incident at Nashville International Airport (BNA).
In September of the previous year, an Alaska Airlines (AS) flight was similarly forced to brake suddenly to avoid a collision with a Southwest Airlines (WN) jet, resulting in deflated tires and a disabled aircraft. That event remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
In last week’s event, radio communications revealed that the Piper Cherokee pilot failed to follow taxi instructions after landing. The pilot was instructed to turn right onto taxiway Kilo, but instead turned left, inadvertently crossing the active runway in front of the Delta jet.
It is still unclear whether updated instructions were provided or acknowledged during the taxiing sequence.
Photo: Clément AlloingOfficial Remarks
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the incident, stating that air traffic control canceled Delta’s takeoff due to another aircraft crossing the runway. The FAA has launched an investigation to determine accountability and procedural adherence.
Delta Air Lines addressed the incident through an official statement, affirming that the flight crew followed all established safety protocols.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our people and customers,” the airline emphasized. After the emergency stop, DL2724 safely departed shortly thereafter without further issues.
Photo: Clément AlloingRole of ATC and Pilot Communication
The quick response from Nashville’s air traffic controllers and Delta’s flight crew was critical in preventing a collision.
Controllers praised the Delta pilots for their awareness and swift action. Radio logs indicate that while the Piper Cherokee was instructed to navigate correctly via taxiway Kilo, the pilot deviated from the expected path.
The archived recordings do not conclusively show whether the small aircraft pilot was given revised directions or if there was any acknowledgment from the pilot. The lack of clarity on the pilot’s response is a key focus of the ongoing FAA investigation.
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The post Delta A321 Aborts Takeoff to Avoid Collision at Nashville Airport appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
