Passengers seated with oxygen masks deployed, flight attendants attending to injured crew after sudden mid-air dive.
A Southwest Airlines flight had a harrowing in-flight scare just after departure from Burbank, California, on Friday. The plane suddenly dipped when an on-board warning alerted the crew of another aircraft in close proximity. Passengers were left rattled, with two flight attendants hurt.
In a statement released by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), "Southwest Airlines Flight 1496 reacted to an onboard warning that a nearby aircraft was present while in Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center airspace." The airline explained that the flight was required to "climb and descend" due to two mid-air alerts.
The other plane was a Hawker Hunter MK 58, a single-seat fighter airplane owned by a private company, according to FAA records, an eyewitness familiar with the incident said.
The sudden plunge created pandemonium among passengers. Comedian Jimmy Dore, who was on the flight, narrated the experience on X (formerly Twitter), saying, "Pilot had to dive aggressively to avoid midair collision over Burbank airport. Myself & Plenty of people flew out of their seats & bumped heads on ceiling, a flight attendant needed medical attention."
A second passenger, Steve Ulasewicz, told NBC Los Angeles that the crash happened about eight minutes into flight. He remembered, "People were screaming. You know, it was pandemonium. People thought the plane was going down." He reported that the plane moved in a two-second dip and an eight to ten-second feel of 'freefall'.
In spite of the shock, the aircraft landed safely at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. The airline, in a statement, affirmed, "No injuries were immediately reported by Customers, but two Flight Attendants are being treated for injuries." Medical staff greeted the plane on arrival, and one person was taken to the hospital.
FAA reports indicate the Hawker Hunter jet is registered in Newark, Delaware. NBC News has reached out to the listed company to confirm the plane's involvement.
In another aviation accident, a Russian aircraft crashed on Thursday in the eastern Amur region with 49 on board, including six crew. Russia's emergencies ministry said through Telegram, "An Mi-8 helicopter of Rosaviatsiya (Russia's civil aviation authority) has located the burning body of the aircraft," as per Reuters.
