LOS ANGELES- A potentially serious incident occurred in Southern California airspace on March 17, 2025, when a Southwest Airlines (WN) Boeing 737 and a private Cessna Citation jet came dangerously close to each other.
The near-collision triggered onboard safety systems and raised questions about air traffic control procedures and pilot readiness.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons; Compounded by Aviation A2ZSouthwest Cessna Close Call
Two aircraft were at the centre of this close call:
- N610GD: A Cessna Citation Encore flying from Borger, Texas (BGD), to Van Nuys, California (VNY)
- Southwest flight WN2961: A Boeing 737-700 travelling from Sacramento (SMF) to Burbank (BUR), California
The proximity of the Van Nuys (VNY) and Burbank airports (BUR), just 8 miles apart, creates challenging airspace where flight paths frequently intersect. Poor weather conditions with deteriorating visibility complicated the situation.
The Cessna Citation pilot failed to maintain visual contact with the runway during approach to Van Nuys Airport (VNY). Unable to land, the pilot initiated a go-around procedure but did not communicate this decision to Air Traffic Control (ATC).
At the same time, the Southwest 737 was descending over Van Nuys Airport (VNY) on its approach to Burbank.
As the Cessna unexpectedly climbed, it entered the path of the descending 737. The aircraft lost the required separation distance, triggering Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) alerts in both cockpits. Audio recordings and visualisation of the incident were captured and shared by VASAviation.
Communication Breakdown
The air traffic control audio reveals several concerning issues:
- The Cessna pilot requested vectors despite being told twice that the runway was directly ahead at “12 o’clock” on the same heading
- The pilot began climbing without clearly announcing a missed approach decision
- The Citation did not follow the published missed approach procedure for Van Nuys Airport (VNY)
- The air traffic controller appeared to freeze during the critical moment when clear instructions were most needed
In contrast, the Southwest (WN) pilots responded appropriately to the situation and followed proper procedures throughout the incident.
Photo: Aero Icarus | FlickrComplex Air Traffic Environment
The incident occurred in congested airspace where multiple aircraft were operating:
- Delta Air Lines (DL) aircraft were positioned at various distances from the airport
- Traffic advisories were being issued for several planes in the area
- Poor visibility to the north affected the Cessna’s approach
- Incoming storms added pressure to the traffic management situation
Photo: Southwest AirlinesSafety Systems
The TCAS safety system functioned as designed, alerting pilots to the potential collision and providing instructions to avoid impact. The system represents a crucial final layer of defence when other safety measures fail.
Aviation experts have pointed to this incident as an example of how multiple factors—poor weather, inadequate preparation, and communication failures—can quickly combine to create dangerous situations in the sky. The contrast between this controller’s performance and that of others in similar high-pressure situations has also drawn attention from safety analysts.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) typically investigates such incidents to identify improvements needed in training, procedures, or systems to prevent similar close calls in the future.
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The post Southwest 737 and Cessna Citation Involved in Close Call Over California appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
