Burbank, California — Two flight attendants from Southwest Airlines sustained injuries following a dramatic drop experienced by a passenger plane shortly after taking off from Burbank. The aircraft was en route to Las Vegas when it encountered a sudden and alarming descent.

Southwest flight 1496, which had just six minutes into its journey, rose rapidly before plummeting. The airline reported that two alerts were triggered, prompting the pilots to maneuver the plane to avoid a potential mid-air collision with a Hawker Hunter jet.

Flight tracking services confirmed that the Southwest plane narrowly missed the other aircraft, which is registered to a non-citizen corporation. Officials from Southwest Airlines stated that the flight proceeded to Las Vegas and landed safely, where the situation was deemed “uneventful.” The airline is collaborating with federal authorities to investigate the incident further.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed it is in contact with Southwest and is looking into the events that occurred. In a statement, the FAA underscored that the safety of everyone in the national airspace remains paramount.

Passengers reported chaotic scenes inside the cabin during the descent. One passenger, Caitlin Burdi, compared the experience to a theme park ride, describing a sudden drop that was both jarring and frightening. Many onboard exclaimed in disbelief, while some felt as if they were in a freefall.

YouTube personality Jimmy Dore, who was also on the flight, shared firsthand accounts on social media. He noted that numerous passengers were thrown from their seats and that at least one flight attendant required medical assistance after the abrupt dive.

This incident comes on the heels of another close call in U.S. aviation, where a Delta flight nearly collided with a B-52 bomber earlier in the week. March had already seen a passenger jet narrowly missing a military aircraft at Reagan National Airport, highlighting ongoing concerns about air traffic safety.

The near-misses raise further questions about flight safety protocols, particularly as air travel continues to rebound post-pandemic. As investigations proceed, the airline industry will likely face increased scrutiny over measures to protect passengers from such potentially dangerous situations.