Southwest Airlines Flight Encounters Disturbing Descent After Takeoff

LAS VEGAS -- A Southwest Airlines aircraft en route to Las Vegas from Southern California experienced a sudden and alarming descent shortly after its departure on Friday. This incident, which occurred in response to warnings about a nearby aircraft, resulted in some passengers being thrown from their seats and two flight attendants sustaining injuries.

Witnesses described the moment as chaotic, with one passenger noting that it felt as though the plane was plummeting. The flight, Southwest 1496, was taking off from Hollywood Burbank Airport just before noon when the unsettling alerts were triggered. According to data from FlightAware, the aircraft dropped approximately 300 feet in just 36 seconds.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the flight was reacting to onboard alerts regarding the proximity of another aircraft. An investigation into the event is currently underway. Southwest Airlines stated that the flight crew received alerts necessitating a climb followed by a descent as a precautionary measure.

One passenger recounted the scene, describing a fellow traveler who was not wearing her seatbelt being propelled from her seat, her long hair disheveled as she flew upward. The atmosphere inside the cabin was tense, with several passengers expressing their anxiety vocally.

Another passenger, a comedian, took to social media to share that the pilot had mentioned a near-collision, indicating that the collision warning system had been activated due to a plane that was approaching dangerously close. Flight records indicate that the Southwest flight was in the vicinity of a Hawker Hunter Mk. 58, a British fighter aircraft, shortly after takeoff.

Despite the alarming incident, the aircraft continued to Las Vegas, where it landed without further complications. Southwest Airlines has pledged to cooperate with the FAA to fully understand the circumstances surrounding this unsettling event.

This recent incident has sparked renewed discussions regarding aviation safety, especially in light of previous close calls and accidents in the industry.