‘Quick Summary
A Southwest Airlines flight from Burbank to Las Vegas had to dive midair to avoid a fighter jet near Burbank, California. The abrupt maneuver caused chaos onboard, with passengers screaming, and two flight attendants injured. The FAA has launched an investigation.
‘People were screaming’: Terrifying moments aboard flight from Burbank to Las Vegas
A routine Southwest Airlines flight turned into a terrifying ordeal on Friday when the aircraft had to dive suddenly midair to avoid a collision with a fighter jet over southern California. The incident occurred shortly after takeoff from Hollywood Burbank Airport, shaking passengers and injuring two flight attendants.
Onboard alert sparks abrupt dive
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that Southwest Flight 1496 was flying through the Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center’s airspace when it received two onboard alerts signaling that another aircraft was in dangerously close proximity.
In response, the pilot had to rapidly climb and descend to avoid what could have been a deadly midair collision.
“Pilot had to dive aggressively to avoid midair collision over Burbank Airport. Myself and plenty of people flew out of their seats and bumped heads on ceiling,” comedian and passenger Jimmy Dore posted on X.
What was the other aircraft?
The other aircraft involved was identified as a Hawker Hunter MK 58, a single-seat fighter jet. FAA records show that the jet is registered to a company based in Newark, Delaware, though the specific operator hasn’t been publicly confirmed.
The Hawker Hunter is a British-designed jet originally used in the 1950s and 60s and now often operated by private defense contractors for training or simulation purposes.
‘It felt like freefall’
Passenger Steve Ulasewicz recounted the harrowing experience to NBC Los Angeles, saying that about eight minutes into the flight, the plane suddenly dropped for two seconds, then entered what felt like “freefall” for another eight to ten seconds.
“People were screaming… it was pandemonium. People thought the plane was going down,” he said.
Emergency response and crew injuries
The flight, originally bound for Las Vegas, continued on course and landed safely at Harry Reid International Airport. However, two flight attendants were injured during the plunge.
Southwest Airlines said in a statement that no passenger injuries were immediately reported, though one crew member required medical evaluation and was later transported to a hospital.
At the airport, emergency medical personnel met the aircraft on the tarmac.
Investigation underway
The FAA is currently investigating the near-collision, including reviewing radar data, communications, and air traffic control instructions. It remains unclear whether the fighter jet was operating under visual flight rules (VFR) or had failed to maintain the required distance from commercial aircraft.
Key safety rule: The FAA requires a minimum vertical separation of 1,000 feet and horizontal separation of at least 3 miles between aircraft operating under instrument flight rules (IFR).
The company linked to the Hawker Hunter has not issued a public statement.
A frightening reminder
The incident underscores the critical importance of airspace coordination, especially in regions like Southern California, where military, commercial, and private flights converge nearby.
While modern cockpit alert systems helped avert disaster this time, the sudden dive left both crew and passengers rattled—and raised urgent questions about how a fighter jet came so close to a commercial passenger plane.
