{"id":104749,"date":"2025-07-26T05:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-26T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=104749"},"modified":"2025-07-26T05:12:14","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T23:42:14","slug":"southwest-737-pilots-dive-hard-to-avoid-collision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/26\/southwest-737-pilots-dive-hard-to-avoid-collision\/","title":{"rendered":"Southwest 737 Pilots Dive Hard To Avoid Collision, Flight Attendants Injured"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BURBANK\u2014<\/strong> Southwest Airlines (WN)<\/a> Flight WN 1496 from Burbank Airport (BUR) to Las Vegas (LAS) executed an abrupt and severe dive on Friday morning (July 25, 2025) to avoid a potential mid-air collision, as reported by several shaken passengers onboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The incident triggered dual TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) alerts shortly after takeoff, forcing the pilots to first climb and then rapidly descend. The maneuver resulted in two flight attendants sustaining head injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Southwest
Photo: Southwest Airlines<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Southwest 737 Flight Insane Dive<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to eyewitness accounts and airline confirmation, Southwest Airlines Flight WN 1496<\/strong> experienced an in-flight emergency involving a potential traffic conflict shortly after departure from Burbank Airport (BUR).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Boeing 737\u2019s<\/a> crew responded to two independent TCAS alerts, which first instructed a climb followed by an immediate descent to maintain safe separation from other aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Multiple passengers described the dive as \u201cviolent\u201d and \u201cterrifying,\u201d with many briefly airborne despite wearing seatbelts. Two flight attendants were reportedly thrown into the cabin ceiling, requiring medical attention upon landing in Las Vegas (LAS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eyewitness Jimmy Dore, a known social media user, noted on X that the flight \u201cdove aggressively\u201d to avoid the approaching aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other passengers echoed similar experiences, with some describing a drop of several thousand feet. The cabin reportedly erupted in screams, and crew members had to administer first aid for head trauma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Southwest
Photo: Jeffrey S.S | Pexels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Official Statement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Southwest Airlines (WN) released a statement acknowledging the situation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThe Crew of Southwest Flight 1496 responded to two onboard traffic alerts Friday afternoon while climbing out of Burbank, Cal., requiring them to climb and descend to comply with the alerts. The flight continued to Las Vegas, where it landed uneventfully.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The airline added that no customer injuries were reported, though two flight attendants required treatment. They praised the crew\u2019s professionalism and confirmed ongoing coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)<\/a> for further investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The discrepancy in flight numbers between passenger reports (WN-1491) and Southwest\u2019s official statement (WN-1496) may relate to internal rescheduling or misreporting, which is not uncommon in initial incident reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How TCAS Prevents Mid-Air Collisions<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The aircraft\u2019s collision avoidance system, TCAS (Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System), functions as a last-resort safeguard. TCAS II, the latest version, independently monitors nearby transponder-equipped aircraft and provides both traffic and resolution advisories directly to the cockpit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a potential conflict is identified, TCAS issues verbal commands such as \u201cClimb\u201d or \u201cDescend\u201d to pilots. If both aircraft involved are TCAS-equipped, the systems coordinate to ensure opposite maneuvering commands, preventing collision risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All commercial aircraft in U.S. airspace with more than 30 seats are mandated to carry TCAS, per FAA regulations. While highly reliable, the system assumes pilots will execute commands immediately and that other aircraft will also respond correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"United
Photo: Cl\u00e9ment Alloing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Similar Incident<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This event echoes a recent September 2024 incident involving a United Airlines (UA)<\/a> flight from Newark (EWR) to San Francisco (SFO).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Boeing 757 made a sudden maneuver due to a TCAS alert while cruising at 38,000 feet over Wyoming. Two passengers were injured, one seriously, after being thrown within the cabin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The incident underscores the importance of seatbelt compliance, even during calm cruising phases, and raises questions about airspace congestion and communication effectiveness in high-traffic zones like the Los Angeles Basin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Southwest Boeing 737 Drops to 500 ft Over Oklahoma, FAA Investigates<\/a><\/blockquote>