Southwest Flight's Near Miss Highlights Aviation Safety

Southwest Airlines Flight 1496 narrowly avoided a midair collision on July 25, 2025, after an emergency 475-500 foot descent prompted by two collision alerts involving a nearby Hawker Hunter military jet, shortly after departing Burbank for Las Vegas. The rapid maneuver caused panic among passengers, with two flight attendants injured but no passenger injuries. The incident is part of an increasing number of near-misses between commercial and military aircraft in U.S. airspace this year. Flight tracking data indicated the descent occurred within about 30 seconds before the flight continued safely to Las Vegas. The FAA has launched an investigation, examining possible air traffic control or pilot error. Southwest Airlines is cooperating with authorities, and the event has renewed concerns about aviation safety and the reliability of collision avoidance systems.