January 1, Southwest Nosedive Sparks Panic in the Skies

Clear Facts:

• Flight dropped suddenly to dodge another plane.
• Passengers and crew suffered injuries and shock.
• FAA now investigating near-miss scare.

Southwest flight 1496 out of Burbank took a sharp nosedive just after takeoff to keep from colliding with another plane. Some riders were tossed into the ceiling, with kids and adults screaming in terror.

Two flight attendants needed treatment after the plunge, according to a Southwest Airlines spokesperson. One crew member even declared he was quitting right then and there.

Passenger Caitlin Burdi said

“About 10 minutes into the flight, we plummeted pretty far, and I looked around, and everyone was like, ‘OK, that’s normal’.”

“Then, within two seconds, it felt like the ride Tower of Terror, where we fell 20 to 30 feet in the air. The screaming, it was terrifying. We really thought we were plummeting to a plane crash.”

Southwest said the crew responded to two traffic alerts and had to both climb and descend quickly, following directions after losing their connection to air traffic controllers. The flight pressed on and landed safely in Las Vegas.

The FAA explained another aircraft was close by during that tense moment. Both Southwest and federal officials are now looking deeper into what happened.

After the scare, the pilot told everyone over the speaker they nearly collided and lost signal with air traffic control.

Burdi said

“It was absolutely terrifying.”

“I just remember him saying, ‘What just happened was we almost collided with another plane, and I had to make the emergency attempt to go under because we lost service with the air traffic controller.'”

Other passengers shared their shock online.

Comedian Jimmy Dore shared on X:

“Myself & plenty of people flew out of their seats & bumped heads on ceiling, a flight attendant needed medical attention”

“Pilot said his collision warning went off & he needed to avoid plane coming at us. Wow.”

This incident is now under official investigation. Stay informed and keep your seatbelt fastened—no matter how short the trip.

When our families rely on flying for work or gatherings, safety and quick-thinking crews matter most. It’s a stark reminder that rules and alert systems save lives, and our working folks—whether flying the plane or helping in the aisle—deserve a fair shake and thanks for keeping everyone safe under pressure.

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