Southwest Flight Avoids Collision, Injures Crew

A Southwest Airlines flight from Burbank to Las Vegas was forced to make sudden altitude changes shortly after takeoff to avoid a potential midair collision with a privately owned aircraft, resulting in injuries to two flight attendants. Passengers described a dramatic plunge that lifted them out of their seats and caused some to hit the cabin ceiling, though no passenger injuries were reported. The crew responded to dual onboard collision alerts, executing both a steep descent and climb in accordance with safety protocols. The pilot reported losing contact with air traffic control during the incident. The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation, and Southwest is cooperating fully. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about the safety of alert and air traffic control systems in U.S. airspace.