Two flight attendants were injured when Southwest WN1496 made a sudden descent shortly after takeoff to avoid a potential mid-air collision.
Passengers on a Southwest Airlines flight from Burbank to Las Vegas experienced tense moments Friday when the aircraft made a sudden descent shortly after takeoff to avoid a potential mid-air collision.
Southwest Flight WN1496 had been airborne for about six minutes en route to Las Vegas when it abruptly dropped 475 feet—from 14,100 to 13,625 feet—after its collision avoidance system (TCAS) issued an alert.
Two flight attendants were injured during the maneuver, Southwest confirmed.
The other aircraft involved—a Hawker Hunter, registration N335AX—was flying at roughly 14,653 feet when Flight 1496 initiated its descent. At their closest point, the two planes were about 4.86 miles apart, FlightRadar24 data shows.
When TCAS detects a potential conflict, one aircraft is directed to climb while the other descends, even if they are separated by several miles. Preliminary data indicates that the planes were not in immediate proximity but were close enough to trigger automated safety protocols.
In a statement, Southwest Airlines said:
“Southwest is engaged with the Federal Aviation Administration to further understand the circumstances. No injuries were immediately reported by Customers, but two Flight Attendants are being treated for injuries. We appreciate the professionalism of our Flight Crew and Flight Attendants in responding to this event. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our Customers and Employees.”
