Jimmy Dore Recounts Harrowing Southwest Airlines Near Mid-Air Collision

Terrifying Flight Experience

• ✈️ Jimmy Dore describes a harrowing flight on Southwest Airlines from Burbank to Las Vegas.
• ⚠️ The plane experienced a sudden, severe drop, described as freefall or zero gravity, for several seconds.
• 💥 This occurred due to an aggressive evasive maneuver by the pilot to avoid a collision with another aircraft.

Passenger and Crew Impact

• 🤕 Passengers, including women in front of Jimmy, were thrown out of their seats and hit their heads.
• 🚨 Two flight attendants were injured while preparing to serve drinks.
• 😟 Many passengers, including Jimmy, experienced shock and fear, with some screaming and expressing a desire to exit the plane.

Pilot's Explanation and Aftermath

• 🗣️ The pilot later explained that the collision avoidance system had warned of an imminent collision with a vintage military aircraft (Hawker Hunter).
• 📉 Flight data indicated a significant drop in altitude, from over 14,000 feet to around 13,600 feet.
• ✈️ Despite the incident, the flight continued to Las Vegas and landed, though the experience left passengers shaken.

Lack of Communication and Lingering Effects

• ❌ Jimmy expressed frustration that Southwest Airlines never contacted passengers after the incident.
• 🧠 The experience had lasting psychological effects, with Jimmy feeling traumatized and experiencing unease during a simulated motion experience at the Las Vegas Sphere.
• 📰 Several news outlets, including the Daily Mail and NPR, covered the event, with some reporting on the close call.

Broader Context and Other Incidents

• ❓ The presence of vintage military aircraft in commercial airspace raised questions about training and air traffic control.
• ⚠️ The transcript mentions other recent near-miss incidents involving commercial and military aircraft.
• ✈️ The FAA is reportedly investigating the Southwest Airlines incident.