Passengers aboard Southwest flight 1496 from Burbank to Las Vegas experienced terrifying turbulence when the jet nosedived approximately 475 feet shortly after takeoff to avoid a midair collision. Dramatic footage from Flightradar has surfaced on social media, capturing the alarming drop.
🚨 BREAKING:
Southwest flight departing Burbank abruptly dropped 475 feet to avoid a possible mid-air collision with another plane, as per flight tracking data and passenger accounts. Reports say terrified passengers flew out of their seats. pic.twitter.com/AETm36xprd
— Warfront observer (@warfrontobservr) July 25, 2025
Turbulent Moments in the Cabin
According to Fox News, the sudden descent caused passengers to “fly up out” of their seats and hit the ceiling. Reports indicate that at least one flight attendant sustained injuries during the incident. The airline has yet to confirm the specific details surrounding the event.
Stand-up comedian Jimmy Dore shared his experience on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating, “Myself & plenty of people flew out of their seats & bumped heads on the ceiling. A flight attendant needed medical attention. The pilot said his collision warning went off & he needed to avoid a plane coming at us. Wow.”
Pilot’s Announcement and Passenger Reactions
Steve Ulasewicz, speaking to ABC News, recounted that the pilot announced they had executed the maneuver to “avoid a midair collision.” He described the chaotic scene: “The plane was just in a freefall. It was pandemonium,” corroborating accounts of injuries among the flight attendants.
The other aircraft involved was a Hawker Hunter identified as N335AX, which was flying at an altitude of approximately 14,653 feet when the Southwest flight began its descent.
Safe Landing and Investigation
Despite the shocking incident, the Southwest flight safely landed in Las Vegas without further issues. The airline is currently coordinating with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) “to further understand the circumstances” surrounding the event, as stated in reports by ABC News.
