A Southwest Airlines flight from Burbank to Las Vegas was forced into a sudden and steep descent on Friday, July 25, 2025, after reportedly coming dangerously close to another aircraft in the skies over southern California. The dramatic maneuver injured two flight attendants and raised serious concerns about airspace safety and traffic control coordination.
Incident Summary
Southwest Airlines Flight 1496 had just departed from Hollywood Burbank Airport when it received two automated traffic collision alerts. The alerts prompted the flight crew to quickly climb, then rapidly descend the aircraft in response. According to Southwest’s statement, the alerts were triggered by the close proximity of a Hawker Hunter jet, a privately owned military-style aircraft. According to FAA records the Hawker is owned by Hunter Aviation International.
Flight attendants were injured during the descent, and several passengers expressed panic and fear during the event. Despite the chaos, the flight continued to Las Vegas and landed without further incident.
What Caused the Emergency Descent?
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed that it is investigating the incident. Preliminary information indicates the near-collision occurred about six minutes after takeoff, when the privately owned jet crossed within a few hundred feet of the Southwest plane’s altitude and less than two miles away—well inside the FAA’s minimum safe separation thresholds.
The pilot later informed passengers that they had briefly lost contact with air traffic control and had to maneuver below the oncoming aircraft to avoid a collision.
Risks of Midair Collisions and Close Calls
Although midair collisions are rare, close encounters can be deadly and are taken extremely seriously by aviation safety agencies. Contributing factors may include:
- Failure of aircraft transponders or TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System)
- Inadequate coordination between aircraft and air traffic control
- Entry of unauthorized aircraft into commercial flight paths
- Delays or confusion in responding to automated collision warnings
- Breakdowns in radio communication or ATC handoff procedures
The presence of a privately owned Hawker Hunter fighter jet—operated by a “Non-Citizen Corporation” per FAA records—raises additional concerns about oversight, airspace authorization, and pilot communication protocols.
Legal Considerations for Injured Airline Employees or Passengers
In aviation emergencies involving evasive maneuvers, those injured may have legal rights depending on the circumstances:
- Injured flight attendants may be eligible for workers’ compensation and, potentially, third-party claims if another aircraft operator was negligent.
- Passengers who suffer personal injuries due to sudden movements or lack of seatbelt warnings may have claims if airline procedures were not properly followed.
- Air traffic control errors, system failures, or unauthorized flight paths may support broader claims involving FAA accountability or regulatory violations.
Aviation incidents are complex, often involving multiple responsible parties—including the airline, air traffic control, private aircraft operators, and federal regulators.
Talk to an Aviation Accident Attorney
At Spagnoletti Law Firm, we can represent injured crew members and passengers in aviation-related incidents. When near-miss events result in injuries or trauma, victims deserve answers—and may be entitled to compensation.
If you were injured during a flight or have questions about your rights after an aviation emergency, call 713-804-9306 to schedule a free consultation with our experienced aviation accident attorneys.
We help clients understand what went wrong and who may be responsible—whether it’s a commercial carrier, a private jet operator, or a failure in the air traffic control system.