Shocking Plunge By Southwest Flight From Southern California Was To Avoid Another Aircraft
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Southwest Airline Jet Makes Dramatic Plunge to Avoid Collision
Passengers aboard a Southwest Airline jet that took a dramatic plunge to avoid an oncoming aircraft were told by the pilot that they nearly struck another plane before landing safely in Las Vegas.
The Boeing 737 jet dropped hundreds of feet in a little over 30 seconds during a flight on Friday, according to a flight tracking website.
Caitlin Burdi, a passenger on the flight, described the experience as a short plunge followed by a more drastic drop as passengers screamed in terror.
One passenger, comedian Stef Zamorano, recounted how some passengers reacted in panic during the incident, with one woman shooting up out of her seat and others expressing a desire to get off the plane.
The Federal Aviation Administration revealed that the flight, Southwest 1496, was responding to an on-board alert about another aircraft in its vicinity. The FAA is currently investigating the incident.
This incident has once again raised concerns about aviation safety following a midair collision in Washington, D.C. earlier this year that resulted in multiple fatalities.
The flight continued to Las Vegas and landed safely, with Southwest Airlines working closely with the FAA to understand the circumstances surrounding the event.
