Passengers aboard Southwest Flight 1496 experienced a harrowing moment when their aircraft suddenly descended nearly 500 feet shortly after takeoff from Burbank, California. The unexpected maneuver occurred as the plane was en route to Las Vegas, Nevada, and was reportedly taken to avoid a potential mid-air collision. The incident marks the second such episode in just one week involving U.S. commercial aircraft. According to flight tracking data and firsthand accounts from passengers, the flight’s crew took evasive action in response to an alert in the cockpit about nearby traffic.
One of the passengers, Caitlin Burdi, vividly described the terrifying sequence, saying it felt like being on a rollercoaster drop. According to her, the cabin was filled with screams as passengers feared the worst, believing the plane was crashing. The aircraft’s pilot later made an announcement explaining that the descent had been a safety measure to avoid another plane due to a momentary communication lapse with air traffic control. Burdi recounted that the pilot informed them they had lost contact with air traffic controllers and had to take rapid evasive action to pass below the oncoming aircraft.
Reports confirm that two flight attendants sustained injuries during the abrupt maneuver and are now receiving medical attention. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the passengers. Despite the initial scare, the plane managed to stabilize and complete its journey, landing safely in Las Vegas without further disruption. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has since launched an investigation to examine the circumstances that led to this near miss and the aircraft’s subsequent emergency actions.
The aircraft involved in the close encounter has been identified as a Hawker Hunter, a British-designed military jet. Flight tracking service Flightradar24 noted that the two aircraft were within 4.86 miles laterally and only 350 feet vertically of each other, an alarmingly close range in aviation standards. This close proximity triggered two onboard traffic collision alerts in the cockpit, prompting the Southwest Airlines crew to initiate both climbs and descents to prevent a collision. The FAA’s investigation will explore how such a situation arose so close to Hollywood Burbank Airport and whether protocol failures occurred.
This incident follows another alarming event on July 18, when a SkyWest Airlines jet, operating as a Delta Connection flight, had a near-miss with a US Air Force B-52 bomber while approaching Minot International Airport in North Dakota. That encounter is under FAA review, raising broader questions about the coordination between civilian flights and military operations in shared airspace. According to reports, the bomber was conducting a ceremonial flyover for the North Dakota State Fair and had received clearance from a control tower operated by a private contractor rather than the FAA.
In another case dating back to March 28, a Delta Airbus A319 was involved in a near-miss with four T-38 military jets near Washington’s Reagan National Airport. That incident, along with a tragic collision on January 29 involving an Army helicopter and a regional jet, has intensified scrutiny of U.S. airspace management. Concerns are mounting over the increasing number of close calls and the effectiveness of current systems in maintaining safe distances between military and commercial aircraft.
Southwest Airlines has confirmed that its crew followed standard safety procedures when responding to the traffic alerts. The statement highlighted that the pilots were trained to handle such scenarios and responded quickly to maintain the safety of all on board. As the FAA continues its investigation, the incident underscores the urgent need for improved communication and coordination protocols between civilian and military aviation authorities. It also raises awareness of the vital role air traffic control plays in ensuring flight safety and preventing potential mid-air tragedies.
