Southwest Jet Dives to Avoid Midair Collision Near Burbank Airport

Near Midair Collision Over Burbank

• ✈️ Passengers on a Southwest Airlines flight from Burbank to Las Vegas reported a harrowing experience where the pilot had to make drastic maneuvers to avoid a midair collision.
• 💥 One passenger described the pilot aggressively diving to avoid another jet, causing passengers to be thrown from their seats and hit their heads on the ceiling.
• 🤕 A flight attendant required medical attention following the incident.

Southwest Airlines Statement and Response

• 📄 Southwest Airlines confirmed that Flight 1496 received two onboard traffic alerts while climbing out of Burbank.
• ⚠️ The crew responded by climbing and descending to comply with these alerts, ensuring the flight continued safely to Las Vegas.
• ✅ Southwest stated that no customer injuries were immediately reported, but two flight attendants received treatment.
• 🤝 The airline is collaborating with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the event.

Aviation Expert Insights

• 🔍 An aviation expert explained that such incidents can occur when pilots don't see each other and rely on air traffic controllers for guidance.
• 🚨 If pilots get too close, they may need to take evasive action to prevent a collision.