A Southwest Airlines jet en route from Southern California to Las Vegas experienced a sudden and significant descent shortly after takeoff due to an alert indicating a nearby aircraft. The abrupt maneuver sent some passengers airborne from their seats and resulted in injuries to two flight attendants.
Stef Zamorano, traveling to Las Vegas with her husband for his birthday, described the incident as a sudden jolt followed by a sensation of falling.
Ms. Zamorano recounted witnessing a woman “not wearing her seatbelt shoot up and out of her seat.”
She noted the palpable fear among the passengers, with the man beside her gripping her arm tightly and a woman across the aisle expressing her desire to disembark immediately.
“She was pretty much verbalising how we all felt, saying, ‘I want to get off this plane. I want to be on the ground,’” Ms. Zamorano told The Associated Press.
FlightAware data indicates the aircraft descended approximately 300 feet (91.44 meters) within a 36-second timeframe.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that Southwest flight 1496 was reacting to an onboard warning concerning another aircraft in close proximity.
The FAA is currently conducting an investigation into the event.
Southwest Airlines confirmed that the crew responded to two alerts that necessitated a climb and subsequent descent by the pilot.
The flight originated from Hollywood Burbank Airport shortly before noon.
Still shaken, Ms. Zamorano found it difficult to understand the pilot’s subsequent announcement to the passengers.
Just now on SW Flight #1496 Burbank to Las Vegas.
Pilot had to dive aggressively to avoid midair collision over Burbank airport.
Myself & Plenty of people flew out of their seats & bumped heads on ceiling, a flight attendant needed medical attention.
Pilot said his collision…
— Jimmy Dore (@jimmy_dore) July 25, 2025
Comedian Jimmy Dore, another passenger, shared on X that the pilot mentioned a near-miss scenario.
“Pilot said his collision warning went off & he needed to avoid plane coming at us,” Dore posted.
FlightAware data shows the aircraft shared airspace near Burbank with a Hawker Hunter Mk 58 around noon local time. The Hawker Hunter is identified as a British fighter plane.
Records indicate the aircraft is owned by Hawker Hunter Aviation, a British defense contracting firm. The company has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Mike Christensen, a spokesperson for Hollywood Burbank Airport, stated that neither the control tower nor the operations department has any record of the Southwest flight’s reported plunge within their airspace.
Southwest reported that the flight proceeded to Las Vegas and “landed uneventfully.”
The airline affirmed its cooperation with the FAA “to further understand the circumstances” surrounding the incident.
This near miss is the latest incident to raise worries about aviation safety, particularly following the January mid-air collision over Washington DC, which resulted in 67 fatalities.
