Averted calamitous mid-air encounter for Southwest Airlines aircraft over Burbank

Averted calamitous mid-air encounter for Southwest Airlines aircraft over Burbank

On Friday, Southwest Airlines Flight 1496, departing from Hollywood Burbank Airport and bound for Las Vegas, experienced a harrowing near-miss with a privately owned Hawker Hunter jet. The incident occurred approximately six minutes after takeoff, with the planes coming dangerously close to each other.

The Southwest flight, in an attempt to avoid a potential collision, executed an aggressive dive, descending about 475 feet. The planes were within less than two miles horizontally and a few hundred feet vertically, violating FAA minimum safe separation guidelines. The Hawker Hunter was around 14,653 feet in altitude, while the Southwest flight climbed and then rapidly descended from about 14,100 feet to 13,625 feet.

During the abrupt descent, two flight attendants were injured, and passengers described a frightening experience, with some being lifted from their seats due to the sudden drop. Steve Ulasewicz, a passenger on the flight, recalled feeling a series of drops, initially thinking they were experiencing turbulence, followed by a second drastic drop. He also mentioned that there were screams from passengers and a period of stunned silence after the second drop.

The FAA is investigating the event to understand the causes related to air traffic control coordination and airspace safety. The agency will also aim to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Southwest Airlines is cooperating with FAA investigators to analyze the incident fully.

The aircraft’s Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) alerted the pilots, triggering opposite vertical maneuvers by the two planes to maintain separation. At the closest point, they were about 4.86 miles apart horizontally, although initial reports note some measurements indicated closer proximity just prior to the maneuver.

Southwest Airlines has issued a statement regarding the incident, expressing their concern for the affected flight attendants and assuring passengers that the quick response of the pilot averted what could have been a disastrous situation. The airline also confirmed that there were no reports of injuries to the passengers or crew on board.

The incident has raised concerns about air traffic control and safety protocols in the Burbank Airport area. The exact cause of the near mid-air collision is currently under investigation. More information about the incident will be provided as it becomes available.

In light of the near-miss incident, the media coverage may expand to include not only general-news and lifestyle segments, but also crime-and-justice, as the event highlights potential safety lapses. Furthermore, travel enthusiasts and news buffs might find an interest inUpdate: The investigation revealed the planes were within the FAA's minimum separation guidelines during the maneuver, contradicting initial reports. However, the incident has raised questions about the efficiency of air traffic control and safety protocols in the Burbank Airport area, which could potentially affect travel plans for passengers.

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