Southwest Airlines Passengers Say Plane Avoided “Midair Collision”

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A group of passengers are opening up about a scary ordeal.

Just moments following Southwest Airlines Flight 1496’s departure from Burbank, California, bound for Las Vegas, the flight team received notification of another aircraft in the same vicinity. This necessitated a swift ascent and descent for the plane.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as reported by NBC News, Southwest Airlines Flight 1496 received an alert about another plane being nearby while it was flying in the Los Angeles Air Traffic Control Center’s airspace. The FAA is currently investigating this incident that happened at around 11 a.m. on July 25th.

Steve Ulasewicz, a traveler aboard the flight, shared with NBC Los Angeles that merely a few minutes after takeoff, everyone experienced a noticeable decrease in altitude for a brief period of time before the aircraft evened out again.

He reported that the plane had plunged without control, causing panic among the passengers. People were shouting, and there was utter chaos.

Not long after, Ulasewicz elaborated that the pilot subsequently verified the aircraft had utilized software to prevent a mid-air collision, as part of his public statement.

Another passenger, comedian Jimmy Dore, shared more details about the experience on social media.

On the 25th of July, the pilot had to swiftly descend in an emergency maneuver to prevent a mid-air crash near Burbank airport. This sudden action caused me and many others to be jolted from our seats and hit the ceiling. A flight attendant required medical attention due to the incident. The pilot explained that his collision alert system activated, forcing him to evade an oncoming plane. Quite a shocking experience!

As reported by NBC News, a source close to the incident stated that the other plane activated during the collision avoidance system warning was a solitary-occupied Hawker Hunter MK 58 fighter jet.

Southwest Airlines is working closely with the Federal Aviation Administration to clarify the details surrounding a recent incident. Fortunately, no passengers were injured initially, but two flight attendants are receiving medical attention for their injuries. We commend the swift response of our crew members during this situation. Above all, the well-being of our passengers and staff is Southwest’s top priority.

The plane was able to land in Las Vegas, the company confirmed, without any further incident.

For a look at similar incidents that have happened over the past year, keep reading…

A jet operated by American Airlines’ subsidiary, American Eagle, was nearing Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., around 9 p.m. Eastern Time. Unfortunately, during this approach, it crashed into an Army Black Hawk helicopter, resulting in the tragic loss of all passengers and crew members on both vehicles.

The plane had four team members on board, along with sixty travelers, which included several athletes coming back from a nationwide figure skating training camp situated in Wichita, Kansas.

President Donald Trump called it a “dark and excruciating night in our nation’s capital.”

As an overly enthusiastic aviation enthusiast, I’ve been closely monitoring the flight patterns around our local airport. According to air traffic control and the National Transportation Safety Board, a military helicopter with three personnel on board was last seen cruising at an altitude of 300 feet – that’s 100 feet above the usual ceiling allowed by FAA rules in this area. Interestingly, FlightAware, a trusted aircraft tracking site, shows the jet’s last recorded altitude as 375 feet. I can’t help but wonder what could have prompted such an unusual flight path.

The crash remains under investigation.

Jennifer Homendy, NTSB Chair, stated to reporters on January 30th, “We examine the individual, the machine, and the surrounding conditions. We’ll investigate all individuals who played a role in this accident. We’ll analyze the aircraft and helicopter involved. We’ll also study the operational environment where they were deployed. This is our usual procedure.

The most recent fatal commercial airline accident on American soil occurred since Colgan Flight 3407 collided with a house in the Buffalo, New York region back in 2009, resulting in the deaths of all 50 passengers on board and an individual on the ground.

Approximately six in the evening Eastern Time, a Learjet 55 belonging to Jet Rescue Air Ambulance experienced a crash on a city street in northeastern Philadelphia.

The unfortunate incident claimed the lives of all six individuals onboard the aircraft – this included a child who had recently undergone treatment for a severe illness, her mother, a medical professional, an emergency responder, and two pilots. Additionally, a 37-year-old man met his end when the vehicle he was driving collided with the plane.

The accident happened barely a minute into the flight, which had taken off at 6:06 p.m., as reported by FlightAware. The plane’s destination was initially Branson, Missouri, with plans to bring the patient and her mother back home to Mexico afterwards.

Shai Gold, a representative from Jet Rescue, stated that she had to struggle significantly to make it through, and regrettably, there was a tragic incident during her journey back home.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is still investigating the cause of the crash. According to a report released by them on March 6 (as reported by NBC Philadelphia), it appears that the cockpit voice recorder, often referred to as the “black box,” did not record any audio from the flight and may have been malfunctioning for quite some time prior.

Nine travelers were flying from Unalakleet, Alaska, to Nome, approximately 140 miles distant, when their Bering Air Cessna Caravan experienced a crash around forty minutes into the journey.

On February 7, three bodies were uncovered near debris located about 34 miles southeast of Nome, as reported by the U.S. Coast Guard. At that time, the Coast Guard stated their belief that the remaining seven individuals, including the pilot, were still inside the damaged aircraft due to its inaccessible and deteriorated state.

In a statement, Senator Lisa Murkowski described Alaska as feeling more like a close-knit town than a large state. She said, “When misfortune occurs, it’s rare for us not to be closely connected to those affected. However, this also means that we unite as one community to mourn and recover.

The NTSB said it would be investigating the crash.

39 p.m. local time, according to attorney Worrick Robinson IV from Nashville.

Neil was not onboard at the time.

The attorney described it as a fast-changing scenario that’s still being investigated, mentioning that Mr. Neil extends his sympathies and gratitude to those affected, along with appreciation for the swift action taken by all emergency services on site.

The Learjet carried four people initially, and subsequently, it was verified by the Federal Aviation Administration that the pilot perished in the incident. On the other hand, the co-pilot and a passenger sustained severe injuries.

According to WMTV 15 News, a preliminary report published on March 3 by the NTSB indicates that surveillance and cell phone videos captured the incident showing the jet’s back left landing gear appeared to be at an angle (slanting or tilted) as it prepared to land on the Scottsdale runway.

Additionally, the report mentioned that the very same flight team had encountered a problem during their landing in McAlester, Oklahoma, on the 20th of June, 2024.

In December, I ensured that a skilled mechanic took care of my aircraft for routine maintenance, as detailed in the subsequent report. An extra round of maintenance was also performed on the plane during this period. The mechanic responsible for servicing the landing gear mentioned in his report that nothing seemed out of the ordinary; however, he noted an unusual consumption of grease in the left landing gear.

On Delta Flight 4819, departing from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, experienced a hard landing that flipped the plane upside down upon arrival at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The aircraft subsequently ignited and was engulfed in flames, carrying approximately 80 passengers on board.

According to Deborah Flint, the president and CEO of Toronto Pearson, everyone involved was safe and 21 individuals received medical attention for minor injuries that were not life-threatening.

In a sudden moment, I recalled being completely tilted sideways,” passenger Pete Koukov stated on TODAY, Feb 18th. “I looked down and saw sparks and flames, whatever was scraping against the ground. It happened incredibly fast, and we found ourselves upside down, suspended from our seat belts.

In the end, he remarked, “Everybody disembarked in an organized manner. The situation didn’t appear excessively chaotic after the plane came to a halt, and it became clear, for the majority of passengers, that they were safe since there were no severe injuries.

As an utterly devoted admirer, let me share that a significant event transpired under crystal-clear skies, and now, the esteemed Transportation Safety Board of Canada is meticulously probing the circumstances surrounding it.

Approximately 8:30 a.m., MT, two compact single-engine aircrafts, specifically a Lancair 360 MK II and a Cessna 172S, had an unfortunate mid-flight collision at Marana Regional Airport, which is close to Tucson, Arizona.

In simpler terms, a Cessna plane safely touched down, but a Lancair aircraft crashed close to runway 3, causing a fire afterward, which resulted in the death of at least two individuals, according to the National Transportation Safety Board’s report.

As per the Federal Aviation Administration, each aircraft had two individuals on board. Subsequently, it was determined that the male and female passengers in the Lancair were the ones who tragically lost their lives.

In a statement released by Marana Regional Airport, superintendent Galen Beem expressed heartfelt sympathy to everyone affected by this incident, stating that it’s an extraordinary occurrence. He also acknowledged the rapid assistance provided by the Marana Police Department and Northwest Fire District in response to the event. (AZFamily was the source of this information)

On its journey from Newark to Indianapolis, FedEx Flight 3609 encountered a bird shortly after taking off, forcing it to perform an emergency landing.

Despite the intense, flaming footage captured during the incident involving a Boeing 767, remarkably, the aircraft managed to touch down securely at Newark Liberty International Airport at precisely 8:07 a.m. Eastern Time. Fortunately, all three individuals on board the cargo flight emerged unscathed from the ordeal.

According to a statement made to NBC News by FedEx, the team operating their B767 aircraft declared an emergency and safely returned to Newark after dealing with engine damage that also sparked an engine fire. They expressed gratitude towards the swift actions of both the crew members and the first responders who handled the situation.

As a dedicated lifestyle enthusiast with a keen interest in aviation, I’d like to share an interesting fact: Just like many modern aircraft models, including the Boeing 767, are designed to continue flying safely if one of their engines fails during flight. This is part of the rigorous certification process that ensures our sky-bound journeys remain as smooth and secure as possible.

Essentially, he’s comparing this situation to a typical engine malfunction. In such a case, the aircraft can only operate on one engine. There are specific procedures for handling this, and pilots are trained to execute them, ensuring a secure landing.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d like to share an unfortunate incident that recently took place. In the role of a pilot, I found myself at the helm of a single-engine aircraft, but on this fateful day, it veered off course and struck a residential property in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, causing damage to a home intended for two occupants. I regret to say that the accident was not under my control.

On the very same day, Brooklyn Park Fire Chief Shawn Conway stated during a press briefing that unfortunately, no one had survived. However, he mentioned that the number of passengers on the aircraft was still unclear.

In my line of work as a lifestyle advisor, I sadly found myself confirming the tragic news of my passing. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner determined that I succumbed to several traumatic impacts.

As an utterly devoted fan, I can’t help but share the harrowing tale that unfolded for none other than Kenneth Tobacman and his beloved partner, Mary Butler. The unfortunate incident occurred when their home was consumed by a colossal fire, following an impact. Since then, they have bravely recounted this terrifying ordeal from their unique vantage point.

Suddenly, Kenneth exclaimed on “Good Morning America”, “There was a massive explosion!” The lights flickered off, and he noticed a bright flash accompanied by sparks, or perhaps a puff of smoke. He was taken aback, thinking to himself, “What on earth is happening?

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2025-07-26 16:47