BURBANK, Calif. — Passengers aboard a Southwest Airlines flight experienced a terrifying plunge earlier this month when the aircraft suddenly dropped 475 feet to avoid a potential midair collision with a privately operated Hawker Hunter jet near Hollywood Burbank Airport, according to federal aviation officials.
The July 11 incident occurred as Southwest Flight 117, en route from Las Vegas to Burbank, began its final descent. According to preliminary reports from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the commercial aircraft came dangerously close to the vintage military jet, prompting Southwest pilots to take immediate evasive action to prevent a collision.
FAA radar data reviewed by ABC7 Los Angeles and Fox News shows the Southwest Boeing 737 rapidly descending from 1,500 feet to just over 1,000 feet in a matter of seconds. The agency said the planes came within roughly 400 feet vertically and less than one mile laterally — a distance far below federal separation standards.
Passengers Thrown from Seats in Sudden Descent
Multiple passengers reported being thrown from their seats during the sharp nosedive, with at least one person hitting the cabin ceiling due to not wearing a seatbelt. “People were screaming, and you could feel the plane suddenly drop. It was terrifying,” one passenger told Fox News. No injuries were officially reported.
The FAA confirmed it is investigating the incident and has not disclosed whether air traffic control played a role in the near-miss. According to BBC News, the privately owned Hawker Hunter aircraft had been operating legally in the area, though further details about its flight plan have not been released.
Southwest Airlines acknowledged the incident in a brief statement, confirming that Flight 117 “maneuvered to ensure safe separation from another aircraft” and landed without further issue at Hollywood Burbank Airport.
Safety Protocols Under Review
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is also reviewing the encounter, which raised questions about airspace coordination near Burbank’s busy commercial and general aviation corridors. The area is known for mixed traffic, with both large commercial jets and smaller private aircraft operating in close proximity.
The FAA’s investigation will likely examine communication logs, radar data, and flight plans to determine what led to the close call. Midair incidents involving commercial flights remain extremely rare, particularly those requiring such a dramatic maneuver.
Flight 117’s near collision is among a series of recent aviation safety concerns prompting renewed scrutiny over U.S. airspace safety and air traffic control staffing.
