Southwest Airlines Flight to Las Vegas Makes Sudden Descent to Avoid In-Flight Collision

July 25, 2025 – 2:16 PM

A Southwest Airlines flight from Southern California to Las Vegas was forced to make a sudden mid-air descent shortly after takeoff on Friday following an onboard collision warning. The abrupt maneuver caused panic among passengers and left two flight attendants injured.

Sudden plunge triggered by collision alert

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Southwest Flight 1496 was departing from Hollywood Burbank Airport around noon when it received an onboard alert about another aircraft in close proximity. In response, the pilots first climbed and then quickly descended, triggering turbulence that knocked some passengers out of their seats.

Flight tracking data from FlightAware confirmed the aircraft dropped roughly 300 feet (91 meters) in just 36 seconds.

Southwest Airlines stated the flight crew reacted to two separate alerts and took immediate corrective action to maintain safety. While the descent was alarming, the aircraft ultimately continued on to Las Vegas and landed safely, the airline confirmed.

Passenger accounts describe terrifying moments

Several passengers on board described the moment as terrifying. Stef Zamorano, who was traveling with her husband to celebrate his birthday, said the plane felt like it was falling.

“In front of me, a woman without a seatbelt flew out of her seat—her hair just went wild,” Zamorano told The Associated Press. “The man next to her grabbed her arm, and across the aisle, another woman started panicking, saying, ‘I want to get off this plane. I want to be on the ground.’”

Zamorano said she could barely understand the pilot’s announcement afterward, due to shock and the chaotic atmosphere inside the cabin.

Comedian among passengers recounts experience

Comedian and commentator Jimmy Dore, who was also aboard the flight, posted about the incident on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), saying the pilot acknowledged a potential mid-air collision.

“Pilot said his collision warning went off & he needed to avoid plane coming at us,” Dore wrote in a post following the flight.

Fighter jet identified near the airspace

Data from FlightAware indicated that around the same time and location, a Hawker Hunter Mk. 58—a British-made fighter jet—was in the same airspace near Burbank. The aircraft is registered to Hawker Hunter Aviation, a British defense contracting company.

As of publication, the company had not responded to media inquiries regarding its jet’s flight path or coordination with air traffic control at the time of the incident.

Hollywood Burbank Airport spokesman Mike Christensen stated that the airport’s control tower and operations department had no records indicating an abnormal plunge from the Southwest jet within their monitored airspace.

FAA and airline launch investigation

The FAA has opened an investigation into the incident. The agency will examine the timeline of events, air traffic control communications, and data from the aircraft’s flight systems to determine the exact cause of the near-miss.

Southwest Airlines said it is fully cooperating with authorities and aims to “further understand the circumstances of this incident.” The airline added that customer and crew safety remains its highest priority.

The identities and condition of the two injured flight attendants have not been publicly released, though no serious injuries have been reported among passengers.

Recent aviation safety concerns

This near-miss follows growing scrutiny over aviation safety standards. Earlier this year, a tragic midair collision over Washington, D.C., claimed the lives of 67 people, sparking renewed focus on air traffic protocols and collision avoidance systems.

Although no passengers were seriously harmed in this latest Southwest Airlines incident, the unnerving experience underscores the importance of robust in-flight safety measures and highlights the risks posed by congested airspace around busy airports.

What happens next

As the investigation continues, the FAA is expected to release a preliminary report with further details. Passengers aboard Flight 1496 may be contacted for additional statements as part of the review process.

For now, travelers are reminded to keep seatbelts fastened at all times while seated, even when the seatbelt sign is off—a precaution that may have prevented more injuries during this incident.

Southwest Airlines continues to operate its full flight schedule and said it has reviewed preliminary findings with the flight crew involved. Updates from the FAA and airline are expected in the coming days.