A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 performed an emergency descent maneuver on Friday, July 25, 2025 to avoid a potential mid-air collision with a privately-owned Hawker Hunter fighter jet, leaving two flight attendants injured but preventing what could have been a catastrophic incident in the congested Los Angeles airspace. Flight 1496, bound for Las Vegas from Hollywood Burbank Airport, descended approximately 475 feet about six minutes after takeoff when the aircraft’s Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) issued a Resolution Advisory—a critical automatic warning requiring immediate pilot action. “The crew of Southwest Flight 1496 responded to two onboard traffic alerts Friday afternoon … Continue reading Southwest 737’s Emergency 475-Foot Descent Prevents Midair Collision: TCAS Alert System Saves Lives