Descending Aircraft - Two Passengers Sustaining Injuries - Aircraft Involved in an Accident - Two Individuals Sustaining Injuries
On Friday, July 25, 2025, Southwest Airlines Flight 1496, en route from Hollywood Burbank Airport to Las Vegas, was involved in a near-miss incident with another aircraft. The plane was forced to make a sudden and steep descent to avoid a midair collision.
The Southwest Boeing 737 temporarily dropped about 150 meters after a normal climb, causing severe turbulence that left two flight attendants injured. The crew reacted to a change in course due to a warning about another aircraft being nearby. The nearby aircraft was identified as a privately owned Hawker Hunter jet, a military-style plane owned by Hunter Aviation International.
The Hawker Hunter came within a few hundred feet in altitude and less than two miles horizontal distance, inside the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) minimum safe separation limits. The Southwest plane first climbed then rapidly descended to avoid a midair collision, briefly losing contact with air traffic control during the near-miss.
The FAA has confirmed it is investigating the incident to understand the cause and evaluate airspace safety and traffic control coordination in southern California. The involvement of a military-style jet—specifically the Hawker Hunter—played a key role in triggering the alerts and subsequent emergency maneuvers by the Southwest flight crew.
Passengers described the experience as terrifying, with some fearing a crash. Despite the incident, the flight continued safely and landed in Las Vegas without further issues. Southwest Airlines was not aware of any injured passengers beyond the two flight attendants.
The FAA has not made any new statements about the incident since the initial confirmation of the investigation. The nature and severity of the injuries to the flight attendants have not been provided. The airline did not specify the type of military aircraft involved in the incident.
The sudden descent of Southwest Flight 1496 was a direct response to an imminent near midair collision with the nearby Hawker Hunter, prompting emergency climb and descent maneuvers to maintain safe separation. The incident occurred at Hollywood Burbank Airport, not directly over the city of Hollywood, and the flight continued its journey to Las Vegas, Nevada, without any further incidents.
Vocational training programs in EC countries could benefit from integrating modules on workplace-wellness and health-and-wellness, given the importance of these topics in maintaining the safety and overall well-being of aviation workers, as evidenced by the recent near-miss incident involving a Southwest Boeing 737 and a Hawker Hunter Jet. In addition, as the aviation industry continues to evolve and face new challenges, including increased traffic and potential conflicts, the science of air traffic management and safety must be further developed and incorporated into such vocational training programs.
