A Southwest Airlines flight experienced a sudden and dramatic drop shortly after departing from Burbank, California, as the pilot took evasive action to avoid a nearby aircraft. The incident left two flight attendants injured and caused several passengers to be thrown from their seats.
According to data from FlightAware, the Boeing 737 descended approximately 300 feet (91 meters) in just 36 seconds. The sharp maneuver triggered panic among passengers, many of whom feared a crash was imminent.
Comedian Jimmy Dore, who was onboard, described the terrifying moment on X (formerly Twitter): “The pilot had to dive aggressively to avoid a mid-air collision… people flew out of their seats and hit the ceiling. One flight attendant needed medical attention.”
Passenger Stef Zambrano recalled seeing a woman who was not wearing a seatbelt being launched from her seat. “She was yelling that she wanted off the plane — she just wanted to be on the ground,” Zambrano said.
Another traveler, Steve Ulasewicz, told NBC Los Angeles that it felt like the aircraft was in freefall for about 10 seconds. “People were screaming — it was absolute chaos. Everyone thought the plane was going down,” he said.
Despite the frightening incident, the plane continued on to its scheduled destination in Las Vegas and landed safely without further issues.
Reports suggest the Southwest jet came dangerously close to a Hawker Hunter Mk. 58, a British-made fighter aircraft. The airline has since confirmed it is working closely with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to investigate the incident.
This marks the second such near-miss involving a commercial aircraft in just one week, intensifying concerns over aviation safety in the U.S. The issue has gained more attention following a deadly mid-air collision near Washington D.C. in January, which claimed 67 lives.
