In a dramatic incident this Friday, a Southwest Airlines flight from Burbank to Las Vegas faced an unforeseen emergency situation that led to rapid altitude loss shortly after takeoff, injuring crew members and leaving passengers in shock.
**Southwest Flight Experiences Emergency Descent Due to Near Miss**
**Southwest Flight Experiences Emergency Descent Due to Near Miss**
Passengers shaken after flight drops rapidly to avoid collision, with injuries reported.
A Southwest Airlines flight nearly faced calamity shortly after departing from Hollywood Burbank Airport on Friday, leading to an emergency descent to avoid a potential collision with another aircraft. Flight 1496, en route to Las Vegas, experienced a sudden drop in elevation that resulted in chaos on board, with two flight attendants sustaining injuries as passengers reported being thrown from their seats. According to Southwest Airlines, the crew responded to two onboard traffic alerts, prompting the pilot to swiftly adjust the flight path.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated an investigation into the incident, emphasizing that the safety of the national airspace system is their utmost priority. This event follows closely on the heels of another close call just a week prior. Comedian Jimmy Dore, who was on the flight, recounted that the pilot's actions were necessary to avoid an imminent collision. "The pilot said his collision warning went off," Dore relayed on X, adding that one flight attendant required medical assistance following the alarming episode.
Passengers shared their harrowing experiences, with Caitlin Burdi recalling the atmosphere of fear: "We really thought we were plummeting to a plane crash," she described. After landing safely, the pilot addressed the passengers, explaining that they had lost contact with air traffic control and narrowly avoided a collision with a nearby plane. CNN reported that the Southwest flight was almost intercepted by a Hawker Hunter fighter jet within minutes of takeoff, tracking data revealing the jet passed distressingly close.
Despite the frightening scenario, the flight ultimately landed "uneventfully" in Las Vegas, and the airline expressed gratitude towards their crew for maintaining professionalism throughout. Southwest Airlines stated that they are cooperating fully with the FAA to understand the mishap while reaffirming their commitment to ensuring passenger and employee safety. This incident adds to a growing list of near-miss events in the aviation sector, raising questions about air travel safety standards.
