Plunging Southwest Airlines flight en route to Las Vegas, influenced by nearby aircraft's proximity
Southwest Airlines Flight 1496 Involved in Near Miss with Hawker Hunter Mk. 58
On July 25, 2025, Southwest Airlines Flight 1496, en route from Hollywood Burbank Airport to Las Vegas, experienced a near miss with a Hawker Hunter Mk. 58 fighter jet. The incident occurred shortly after takeoff, with the Southwest plane descending 475 feet from about 14,100 feet to 13,625 feet to avoid a potential mid-air collision.
According to flight tracking data, the planes were approximately 4.86 miles apart at their closest approach. This proximity triggered traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) alerts, which prompted evasive maneuvers by both aircraft.
The incident resulted in minor injuries to two Southwest flight attendants. Passengers described the experience as a significant and frightening drop. Southwest Airlines confirmed that the flight landed safely in Las Vegas and is cooperating with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to understand the incident fully.
This near miss has renewed questions about aviation safety, particularly regarding air traffic control and collision avoidance protocols. It follows a tragic midair collision over Washington, D.C., in January 2025, which resulted in 67 fatalities.
The TCAS system involved operates independently of ground control, providing real-time climb or descend commands to pilots to avert collisions. Preliminary reports suggest that while the planes were several miles apart, the TCAS alerts were timely and effective in preventing a collision. However, the occurrence underscores potential gaps or challenges in managing airspace where different types of aircraft—including military jets like the Hawker Hunter—operate alongside commercial flights.
The FAA is actively investigating the circumstances of the event to identify any systemic issues or procedural changes necessary to improve safety. The investigation's findings may lead to recommendations to enhance protocols and reduce the risk of future near misses in the aviation sector.
Hawker Hunter Aviation, the owner of the fighter jet, did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
Ty O'Neil, an Associated Press journalist, contributed from Las Vegas, and Stef Zamorano, a passenger on the flight, reported seeing a woman who wasn't wearing her seat belt shoot out of her seat during the incident. Zamorano could hardly make out what the pilot was saying when he later addressed the passengers.
Mike Christensen, an airport spokesman for Hollywood Burbank, provided a statement regarding the incident. Neither the control tower nor the operations department at Hollywood Burbank Airport have any record of the Southwest flight plunging in their airspace.
This latest incident serves as a reminder of the critical role of onboard collision avoidance systems and the importance of robust air traffic management, especially in congested or mixed-use airspace.
- News about the near miss between Southwest Airlines Flight 1496 and a Hawker Hunter Mk. 58 fighter jet in Toronto's public transit news had sparked general discussions about air safety.
- Despite being several miles apart, the close call between the two aircraft highlights the importance of the media industry focusing on aviation safety, particularly in the finance sector.
- The insurance industry might be deeply impacted by this incident, given the potential legal consequences related to car accidents or fires that could arise due to passengers' traumatic experiences during aviation incidents.
- Southwest Airlines' incident with the near miss has put a spotlight on the transportation industry, with aviation experts stressing the importance of collaborative efforts for improving safety in public-transit and commercial flights.
- As the FAA continues its investigation into the near miss, the media industry might be eager for updates on whether the incident will lead to improvements in air traffic control and collision avoidance protocols.
- The aviation industry will closely monitor any recommendations made by the FAA to discuss and learn from the near miss, working towards enhancing the safety of the transportation sector.
