Southwest Airlines Flight Takes Dramatic Plunge After Collision Alert
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A dramatic incident unfolded Friday when a Southwest Airlines jet, Flight 1496, en route from Southern California to Las Vegas, took a significant dive shortly after takeoff, injuring two flight attendants. The event occurred in response to an onboard alert regarding a nearby aircraft, prompting a swift reaction from the flight crew.
The flight, which departed from Hollywood Burbank Airport just before noon, was forced to respond to two air alerts that required the pilot to perform a climb and then a sudden descent, the airline confirmed in a statement. Passengers described the harrowing experience on social media, with comedian Jimmy Dore recounting that the pilot announced a collision warning had activated, necessitating evasive action.
While reports indicated that the plane experienced a sharp drop soon after takeoff, Mike Christensen, a spokesperson for the airport, noted that there was no record of the Southwest flight’s perilous maneuvering within the airspace of Hollywood Burbank Airport. The control tower and operations department were not aware of any such incident occurring at that time.
Following the disturbance, the flight continued to its destination and landed safely in Las Vegas. Southwest Airlines is currently collaborating with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to understand the circumstances surrounding the event. The FAA has since launched an investigation into the incident.
This near-miss incident adds to growing concerns surrounding aviation safety, particularly in light of previous high-profile accidents, including a tragic midair collision over Washington, D.C., earlier this year that resulted in 67 fatalities.
Story by Rio Yamat, Associated Press
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