A US passenger aircraft executed an emergency descent shortly after takeoff to avoid a near-collision with another aircraft, resulting in injuries to two cabin crew members and passengers being tossed out of their seats. The Southwest flight had just left Burbank, California, when the pilot was alerted to the presence of another plane. Flight data from FlightAware indicated a rapid drop of 91 meters within 36 seconds. Passengers on board described feelings of panic, with some fearing for their lives. Comedian Jimmy Dore, who was on the flight, recounted the incident on X, noting that a flight attendant required medical attention post-incident.
Passenger accounts described the experience as feeling akin to a freefall, with panic sweeping through the cabin. Despite the alarm, the aircraft managed to land safely in Las Vegas without further incident. Reports suggest that the near-miss occurred in the vicinity of a Hawker Hunter Mk. 58, a British fighter jet.
Southwest Airlines is collaborating with the Federal Aviation Administration to investigate the incident thoroughly. This occurrence marks the second such incident within a week, raising concerns over aviation safety in the United States, particularly in light of a deadly mid-air collision in Washington DC in January that claimed 67 lives.
Source: https://news.sky.com/story/plane-plunges-300ft-in-36-seconds-to-avoid-other-aircraft-13401958
