Flight headed to Las Vegas plunges in response to nearby aircraft

Las Vegas Following an alarm about a nearby airliner, a Southwest Airline plane on its way to Las Vegas from Southern California made a spectacular dive just after takeoff Friday, sending some passengers flying out of their seats and injuring two flight attendants.

Stef Zamorano, who was traveling to Las Vegas with her husband to celebrate his birthday, reported that the plane jerked abruptly shortly after takeover and then felt as though it was falling.

Zamorano watched as a woman without a seat belt shot up and out of her chair in front of her, her long hair flying in a tangled mass. She claimed that the woman across the aisle was in a panic and that the man sitting next to her was holding onto her arm.

She was essentially expressing our collective feelings when she said, “I want to get off this plane.” Zamorano told The Associated Press, “I want to be on the ground.”

According to data from FlightAware, a website that tracks flights, it fell about 300 feet (91.44 meters) in 36 seconds.

Southwest 1496 was responding to an onboard alert on another aircraft in the area, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA is looking into it. According to Southwest, the pilot had to climb and then descend after the crew responded to two alerts. Shortly before noon, the aircraft took off from Hollywood Burbank Airport.

When the pilot eventually spoke to the passengers, Zamorano, who was still in shock, said she could barely understand what he was saying.

Comedian Jimmy Dore, one of the other passengers, wrote on X that the captain had discussed a near-miss.

Dore tweeted that the pilot indicated he had to dodge a plane that was approaching us after his collision alarm went off.

According to FlightAware, shortly after noon local time, the aircraft was in the same area as a Hawker Hunter Mk. 58 near Burbank. A British fighter plane is called a Hawker Hunter. According to records, the British defense contractor firm Hawker Hunter Aviation is the owner. Messages asking for comment were not immediately answered by the company.

According to Hollywood Burbank airport spokesperson Mike Christensen, there is no record of the Southwest flight entering their area in either the control tower or the operations department, which keeps track of flights coming in and going out.

According to Southwest, the flight proceeded to Las Vegas and touched down without incident. The airline stated that it is collaborating with the FAA to gain a deeper understanding of the incident’s circumstances.

This near-miss is only the most recent event to cast doubt on aviation safety following the 67-person fatal midair crash that occurred above Washington, D.C., in January.

Ty O. Neil, a journalist with the Associated Press, provided commentary from Las Vegas.