Comment on Pilots of an Alaska Airlines jet braked to avoid a possible collision with a Southwest plane

WASHINGTON (AP) — An Alaska Airlines jet taking off in Nashville braked to a rapid stop on the runway to avoid a possible collision with a Southwest Airlines plane, and federal agencies are investigating the incident. The Federal Aviation Administration said the Alaska pilots aborted their takeoff because the Southwest plane was cleared to cross the end of the same runway. An Alaska Airlines spokesperson said the pilots recognized “a potential traffic conflict on the runway” and “immediately applied the brakes to prevent the incident from escalating.” No injuries were reported, but tires on the Boeing 737 Max went flat from the extreme heat buildup during the stop, according to the Seattle-based airline. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board said they were investigating the incident, which happened at about 9:15 .m.