By Edward Lyomu | Mulembe Times | July 27, 2025
A Southwest Airlines flight from Burbank, California, to Las Vegas made a dramatic mid-air dive on Friday to avoid a potential collision with another aircraft, injuring two flight attendants and rattling passengers, some of whom were thrown out of their seats.
The flight, Southwest Airlines Flight 1496, had just taken off from Hollywood Burbank Airport when it suddenly dropped several hundred feet, according to real-time tracking data from flight monitoring websites. The cause: a rapid evasive maneuver to prevent a mid-air collision with another plane.
One of the passengers onboard was American stand-up comedian Jimmy Dore, who posted about the terrifying experience on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). “Plenty of people flew out of their seats & bumped heads on ceiling,” Dore wrote. “It was an aggressive dive, and no announcement until after it happened.”
The pilot reportedly addressed passengers shortly afterward, explaining that the abrupt action was necessary to avoid colliding with another aircraft in the same airspace.
FAA Opens Investigation
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that it is investigating the incident.
In a statement, the FAA said it is reviewing communications between air traffic control and both aircraft involved. “Safety is our top priority,” the agency said, adding that further details will be released once the investigation is complete.
According to aviation data from FlightAware, the aircraft that Southwest 1496 came dangerously close to was a Hawker Hunter Mk 58 fighter jet. The plane is believed to be privately owned and was flying in civilian airspace near Burbank at the time of the incident.
Southwest Airlines responded with a brief statement, confirming that its crew had received “two onboard traffic alerts” requiring them to “climb and descend” as part of a standard collision avoidance protocol. “The flight continued safely to Las Vegas and landed without further incident,” the airline said.
Flight Attendants Injured
While no passengers were reported to have sustained serious injuries, Southwest confirmed that two flight attendants were injured during the sudden dive and are currently receiving medical treatment. The full extent of their injuries has not been disclosed.
Passengers described scenes of panic as the aircraft dropped suddenly. “It felt like the floor disappeared,” one traveler told a local news outlet. “People without seatbelts were airborne. It was terrifying.”
Mounting Concerns Over U.S. Air Safety
This incident adds to a growing list of recent aviation safety scares in the United States. In January, a tragic mid-air collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport involving a commercial aircraft and a military helicopter claimed 67 lives.
And in May, the Biden administration—continuing a controversial policy introduced under President Donald Trump—announced a sweeping overhaul of the U.S. air traffic control system. The plan includes replacing outdated radar equipment and addressing the chronic shortage of FAA air traffic controllers.
Critics argue that the current administration’s cost-cutting measures—specifically the layoffs of hundreds of FAA employees—have stretched air traffic systems dangerously thin. Aviation unions have repeatedly warned that undermanned control towers increase the risk of exactly the kind of close calls seen on Friday.
Looking Ahead
Aviation experts say that while onboard safety systems like the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) helped prevent disaster in this case, over-reliance on automation and underinvestment in human oversight are dangerous trends.
“Technology saved lives here,” said Captain Alex Monroe, a retired airline pilot and aviation consultant. “But we can’t keep gambling with human lives while our air traffic control infrastructure crumbles.”
The FAA’s investigation is ongoing. Passengers and crew from Flight 1496 are expected to be interviewed as part of the inquiry.
As the U.S. grapples with modernizing its aging aviation infrastructure amid growing air traffic volumes, Friday’s near-miss serves as a stark reminder: air safety can never be taken for granted.
