The alarming situation unfolded on Friday when Southwest Airlines Flight 1496, departing from Hollywood Burbank Airport to Las Vegas, experienced a severe drop in altitude shortly after takeoff. Eyewitness accounts shared on social media indicated that the quick maneuver was necessitated by a looming collision with another aircraft.
Passengers reported being jolted out of their seats, and two flight attendants sustained injuries during the chaotic descent. Southwest Airlines later confirmed that the crew had to respond to multiple onboard traffic alerts, requiring them to rapidly climb and descend to avert a potential disaster. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is officially investigating the incident, emphasizing that safety remains their primary concern in the national airspace system.
Among the shaken passengers was stand-up comedian Jimmy Dore, who tweeted about the alarming experience, stating the need for evasive action when a collision warning was issued. Dore’s fellow passenger, Caitlin Burdi, recounted the terrifying experience, noting the passengers' fearful reactions as the plane plummeted. According to Burdi, the pilot later reassured passengers that they had narrowly avoided a collision with another aircraft and had temporarily lost contact with air traffic control.
Reports from CNN highlighted that only six minutes into the flight, the aircraft came alarmingly close to a privately-owned Hawker Hunter fighter jet, which was flying from El Paso to Oxnard, California. Documents reveal that the jet crossed less than two miles ahead of the Southwest flight, at a dangerously close altitude.
Despite the frightening ordeal, the flight managed to continue to Las Vegas, landing safely without any further incidents. Southwest Airlines expressed gratitude for the professionalism exhibited by their crew during such a tense situation and affirmed their commitment to working closely with the FAA to gain more clarity on the events that transpired.
This incident follows another close call just days earlier, when a Delta flight was forced to perform an aggressive maneuver to avoid a military bomber, highlighting ongoing concerns about aviation safety. As air travel continues to resume following pandemic disruptions, these incidents bring renewed scrutiny to in-flight safety protocols and operational communications.
Passengers reported being jolted out of their seats, and two flight attendants sustained injuries during the chaotic descent. Southwest Airlines later confirmed that the crew had to respond to multiple onboard traffic alerts, requiring them to rapidly climb and descend to avert a potential disaster. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is officially investigating the incident, emphasizing that safety remains their primary concern in the national airspace system.
Among the shaken passengers was stand-up comedian Jimmy Dore, who tweeted about the alarming experience, stating the need for evasive action when a collision warning was issued. Dore’s fellow passenger, Caitlin Burdi, recounted the terrifying experience, noting the passengers' fearful reactions as the plane plummeted. According to Burdi, the pilot later reassured passengers that they had narrowly avoided a collision with another aircraft and had temporarily lost contact with air traffic control.
Reports from CNN highlighted that only six minutes into the flight, the aircraft came alarmingly close to a privately-owned Hawker Hunter fighter jet, which was flying from El Paso to Oxnard, California. Documents reveal that the jet crossed less than two miles ahead of the Southwest flight, at a dangerously close altitude.
Despite the frightening ordeal, the flight managed to continue to Las Vegas, landing safely without any further incidents. Southwest Airlines expressed gratitude for the professionalism exhibited by their crew during such a tense situation and affirmed their commitment to working closely with the FAA to gain more clarity on the events that transpired.
This incident follows another close call just days earlier, when a Delta flight was forced to perform an aggressive maneuver to avoid a military bomber, highlighting ongoing concerns about aviation safety. As air travel continues to resume following pandemic disruptions, these incidents bring renewed scrutiny to in-flight safety protocols and operational communications.
