Southwest Flight Drops 400 Ft To Avoid Mid-Air Collision; 1 Crew Member Injured: VIDEO

Southwest flight 1496 from Burbank to Las Vegas abruptly descended over 400 feet to avoid a mid-air collision with a Hawker Hunter jet.

The FAA and Southwest are investigating the near miss.

Source : Facebook

A Southwest Airlines flight from Burbank to Las Vegas experienced a terrifying in-flight emergency when it abruptly nosedived over 400 feet shortly after takeoff to avoid a potential midair collision. Flight 1496 was climbing when the cockpit received a collision alert involving a nearby Hawker Hunter F.58 jet flying at an altitude of approximately 14,653 feet, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The flight crew responded by executing a sudden descent, plunging 300 feet in just over 30 seconds.

Terrifying Moments Caught On Radar

Passengers were thrown from their seats with some hitting the cabin ceiling due to the unexpected drop. At least one flight attendant sustained injuries during the turbulence.

🚨🚨Breaking News : At Southwest Airlines Flight WN1496 From Burbank to Las Vegas , pilots had to dive aggressively to avoid midaircollision with N335AX a Hawker Hunter F.58 aircraft.
According to passengers, pilot said his collision warning went off & he needed to avoid plane… pic.twitter.com/H37KiQBAUC

— aircraftmaintenancengineer (@airmainengineer) July 25, 2025

The incident was captured on Flightradar and quickly spread across social media, showing the aircraft’s dramatic altitude loss. Eyewitnesses on board described the event as “horrifying”.

Crew Applauded After Safe Landing

Jimmy Dore, a comedian who was travelling in the flight, in a post on X said, "The pilot had to dive aggressively to avoid midair collision over Burbank airport. 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."

Despite the scare, the flight stabilized and continued on to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, where it landed without further incident. Passengers erupted in applause, praising the crew for their swift response under pressure.

Southwest Airlines has confirmed the incident and is fully cooperating with the FAA’s investigation. The airline emphasised its commitment to safety and said it is working to determine how such a near miss occurred.