A Southwest Airline jet heading to Las Vegas from Southern California experienced a dramatic drop shortly after takeoff in response to an alert about a nearby plane. The incident resulted in injuries to two flight attendants and created turmoil among authorities and passengers onboard.
Southwest flight 1496 swiftly reacted to an onboard alert regarding another aircraft in its proximity, as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration, which has initiated an investigation into the matter.
The crew had to respond to two air alerts, prompting the pilot to first climb and then descend, explained Southwest in an official statement. The flight had taken off from Hollywood Burbank Airport just before noon.
Passengers shared on social media the alarming moment when the plane suddenly dropped following takeoff. Flight tracking data from FlightAware indicated a rapid descent of approximately 300 feet (91.44 meters) in just 36 seconds.
Comedian Jimmy Dore mentioned on social media that the pilot received a collision warning and had to maneuver to avoid an oncoming plane.
The incident occurred in the same airspace near Burbank as a Hawker Hunter Mk. 58, a British fighter plane, shortly after noon local time, as per FlightAware. The aircraft is registered to Hawker Hunter Aviation Ltd, a British defense contracting company that was unresponsive to inquiries.
Mike Christensen, an airport spokesperson for Hollywood Burbank, clarified that neither the control tower nor the operations department had any records of the Southwest flight plummeting within their airspace.
Despite the ordeal, Southwest flight 1496 proceeded to Las Vegas and landed without further issues. The airline assured that it is collaborating with the FAA to gain a better understanding of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
This recent aviation scare adds to the growing concerns about air travel safety following the tragic midair collision over Washington, D.C., earlier this year, which claimed 67 lives.