Flight number 1496 was one of those days that will haunt Southwest Airline’s memories. Southwest Airlines near crash Burbank The aircraft was just ten minutes into its 50-minute passage from Burbank to Vegas when all confusion and horror erupted everywhere. The sensation was that of a “drop” and everyone was flabbergasted and scared. Passengers screamed, kids cried, and chaos took over the cabin. It felt like the ride “Tower of Terror,” according to one traveler.
Flight tracking sites showed the Boeing 737 dropped 500 feet. The pilot addressed the passengers and explained the situation after the plane stabilized.
Turbulence Shakes Cabin and Injures Crew
Caitlin Burdi flew on Flight 1496 and said the turbulence felt off from the start. She had taken the same flight path before. At first, she thought the drop was normal turbulence. Then she realized it was way worse.
Burdi said it felt like they dropped 20-30 feet. The screaming made it worse. People were flying up into the ceiling, and some injured themselves in the chaos. One flight attendant hit her head and was dazed. Another told passengers he was quitting after that.
Two flight attendants were injured. Passengers didn’t report any injuries, but many were in shock.
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Crew’s Quick Thinking Saves the Day
The crew reacted in seconds when the warnings came on in the cockpit. They followed procedures without hesitation. The pilot decided to descend fast to get out of the way of the other aircraft. He saved everyone on board. The flight attendants, despite being injured, helped passengers and kept the cabin calm. Their coordination and bravery kept the panic at bay during those few minutes.
Investigation to Find Airspace Gaps
The FAA investigators are looking at all the data they can get their hands on. They’ll be reviewing radar records, flight paths and cockpit voice recordings. They want to know how the military jet got into the path of a commercial flight. They also want to know why air traffic control didn’t communicate with the pilots at the critical moment. This will help them determine if any procedures were breached. They want to prevent this from happening again by plugging the gaps between military and civilian aviation.
Military Jet Crosses Path Near Burbank Airport
Flightradar24 classified the other airplane as a Hawker Hunter fighter jet. The military style plane crossed in front of the Southwest plane during takeoff. The planes were 4.86 miles horizontally and 350 feet vertically.
They haven’t explained why a military plane flew so close to commercial airspace near Burbank.
The Southwest pilots reacted immediately when they saw two traffic alerts in the cockpit. They followed the onboard warning system to avoid the other plane. The system required them to climb and descend rapidly.
Southwest Statement on Incident
The crew responded to two onboard traffic alerts. They climbed and descended as required. Thanks to the flight crew and flight attendants for their great work. Safety is number one for our customers and employees.FAA is also investigating.
Passenger Accounts Reveal the Terror
Passenger Steve Ulasewicz described it as chaotic and scary. He said he first thought it was just turbulence. But after the second drop, he knew something was wrong.
Ulasewicz said passengers sat stunned, not sure if it was mechanical or something worse. Burdi explained that he needed to go beneath the other plane to survive the crash.
Previous Close Calls Raise Alarms
This wasn’t the only close call with a commercial plane and military aircraft. One week before the Burbank scare, another near miss happened. A SkyWest Airlines jet nearly collided with a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber.
They also said Minot’s air traffic control tower didn’t tell them about the incoming commercial flight.
Other Military-Civilian Incidents Add to Concern
On March 28, Reagan Washington National Airport underwent another near miss.
The authorities are still investigating the incident. Before that, a fatal crash happened in January. That crash killed 67 people and led to new safety restrictions. The FAA later banned Army helicopters from flying around the Pentagon.
FAA Investigates Burbank Scare
The FAA is investigating the Burbank incident. They want to know how a military-style aircraft got so close to a commercial jet. They also want to know why communication failed during the critical moments.
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Conclusion: Averted Disaster Raises Questions
Flight 1496 landed in Las Vegas. But the passengers will never forget this. It showed how fast a normal flight can turn into a horror.
This is the 4th close call with military aircraft since March. It shows how dangerous the skies are when not coordinated. Investigations are ongoing, and passengers are waiting for answers.
Southwest said the crew reacted fast and all is safe. This caused a lot of worry-whether both military and commercial traffic should be allowed to share airspace. The investigation will reveal more. Until then, travelers hope they never have to go through that again.
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