Latest news with #BurbankAirport
Arab Times
6 days ago
- General
- Arab Times
Passenger panic as Southwest jet plunges 500 feet in airspace near miss
NEW YORK, July 26: A Southwest Airlines flight departing from Burbank Airport experienced a sudden mid-air drop of nearly 500 feet on Friday afternoon, potentially to avoid a collision with another aircraft, according to flight data and passenger accounts. At 12:03 p.m., the aircraft was flying at 14,100 feet above the Angeles National Forest en route to Las Vegas when it unexpectedly descended to 13,625 feet, as shown by Flightradar24 data. The aircraft had been climbing steadily since takeoff before the abrupt drop occurred, startling passengers on board. One of the passengers, Steve Ulasewicz, 33, of Woodland Hills, described the moment as a terrifying experience. Around eight minutes into the flight, he felt what he initially thought was turbulence, followed by a sudden free fall lasting about eight to ten seconds. 'People were screaming. I felt my body come up and out of the chair,' Ulasewicz recalled. 'I thought that was it — I thought we were all dead.' As the aircraft stabilized, confusion spread among passengers. Ulasewicz noticed a flight attendant holding an ice pack to her head—she had not been seated or buckled in during the ascent as she was preparing beverage service. It took two to three minutes before the pilot addressed passengers, informing them of a near miss with another aircraft, according to Ulasewicz. The emotional shock turned into frustration as Ulasewicz cited other recent near-collision incidents across U.S. airspace. 'It was terrifying,' he said. 'Then it became anger.' Southwest Airlines later confirmed the plane responded to two onboard traffic alerts and had to adjust its altitude accordingly. 'The flight continued to Las Vegas, where it landed uneventfully,' said spokesperson Lynn Lunsford in a statement to The Times. 'Southwest is engaged with the Federal Aviation Administration to further understand the circumstances.' While no passenger injuries were immediately reported, two flight attendants were being treated for injuries. The FAA issued a statement confirming it is investigating the incident. Flightradar24 data also showed a jet heading southwest toward Naval Base Ventura County in Point Mugu at an altitude of 14,525 feet during the time of the Southwest aircraft's descent. The planes were flying in opposite directions, approximately five miles apart and within 400 feet vertically, when the commercial jet took evasive action. Analysis of flight data suggested the two aircraft could have come dangerously close—within 20 seconds of each other—had both continued on their original flight paths. The other aircraft, which began descending from above as the Southwest flight ascended, paused its descent after the near encounter. The jet's ownership was listed under a Delaware corporation, and it remains unclear whether it was military-operated. Naval Base Ventura County did not immediately respond to inquiries. The Southwest flight landed safely in Las Vegas at 12:39 p.m. This latest event adds to growing concerns over aviation safety. In May, radar outages at Newark Liberty International Airport caused widespread flight disruptions. In January, a collision between a commercial aircraft and a military helicopter in Washington claimed 67 lives. In June, a private jet crash in San Diego killed all six people on board; investigators later revealed the plane had been flying too low before hitting power lines and crashing into a home. The airport's automated weather and lighting systems were found to be non-operational at the time. Federal authorities continue to scrutinize these incidents as they seek to improve aviation safety standards.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 makes most insane dive ever to avoid midair collision on flight to Las Vegas
A Southwest Airlines flight from Burbank to Las Vegas became a nightmare mid-air as passengers were thrown from their seats during a sudden nosedive. The pilot was forced to make the terrifying manoeuvre to dodge a possible mid-air collision, leaving the cabin in chaos and two crew members injured. 🚨🚨Breaking News : At Southwest Airlines Flight WN1496 From Burbank to Las Vegas , pilots had to dive aggressively to avoid midaircollision with N335AX a Hawker Hunter F.58 to passengers, pilot said his collision warning went off & he needed to avoid plane… Jimmy & Stef were aboard that Southwest Airlines flight traveling to Las Vegas today and got a wild ride! ✈️ Moments after takeoff from Burbank Airport, the plane nearly collided with a smaller jet. All passengers are safe. (And grateful to be alive!) Terror at 11,000 feet: A routine flight turns chaotic About 10 minutes after takeoff, passengers felt the aircraft plummet violently. Frequent flyer Caitlin Burdi said the drop felt like a theme park ride from hell, describing it as something out of the Tower of Terror. She recalled how adults screamed, children cried and people slammed into the ceiling, truly believing the plane was going down. A Southwest Airlines plane was forced to descend rapidly to avoid colliding with another aircraft, leaving two flight attendants injured and passengers 'shaken' Earlier today, a Southwest Airlines 737 received a TCAS RA as a Hawker Hunter crossed in front of it. The Southwest jet descended while the Hawker climbed. At their closest point the aircraft were 4.86 miles apart laterally and 350 feet apart vertically. A flight attendant quit on the spot The aftermath was just as chaotic. One flight attendant reportedly hit her head and looked completely dazed, while another stunned crew member allegedly announced he was quitting. Stand-up comedian Jimmy Dore, who was on the flight, posted that many passengers, including himself, were flung into the air and hit their heads. He said the pilot warned of an aircraft collision alert and that evasive action was taken. A young man caused chaos during a flight on board a #Southwest_Airlines plane 📹2-Chaos erupted on a Southwest flight from #NewYork to #Atlanta when a man went on a loud tirade, repeatedly calling a passenger behind him a 'loser' & daring him to 'hit me.'#USA The situation… Pilot confirms a near miss According to passengers, the pilot came on the intercom to confirm everyone's worst fears. He explained that the aircraft had nearly collided with another and that they had lost contact with air traffic control, prompting the emergency dive beneath the other plane. #BREAKING Several passengers of a Southwest Airlines jet headed from #Burbank to #LasVegas say their pilot had to 'aggressively' dive to avoid a midair collision with another plane shortly after takeoff.#USA #SouthwestAirlineshttps:// Airline and FAA speak out Southwest later confirmed that the crew had responded to two traffic alerts and had to quickly climb and descend to avoid danger. The flight eventually landed safely in Las Vegas, but the trauma left behind lingers. The FAA has launched a full investigation, confirming another aircraft was nearby during the event. Southwest praised its crew for their response and assured that the safety of its customers and employees remains their top priority. But for those on Flight 1496, the memory of that nosedive is one they will not soon forget.
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Radar video shows moment Southwest flight avoided mid-air crash with Hawker Hunter- Watch
A Southwest Airlines flight descended 475 feet rapidly after taking off from Burbank Airport in LA County to avoid a mid-air crash with a Hawker Hunter military aircraft on Friday. A video of the Southwest Airlines flight on the aircraft tracking website Flightradar24 showed the moment the flight plunged to avoid the crash. Representational image.(AP) Here's the radar video of the Southwest flight 1496: The flight took off from the Burbank Airport near Hollywood in Los Angeles County at noon on Friday. As per flight tracking data, the two flights came within less than two miles horizontally and a few hundred feet vertically, before the Southwest flight descended from 14,100 feet to 13,625 feet, within a span of a few seconds. When the two aircraft came close to each other, an alert was set off by the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), which enabled the pilots on the Southwest Airlines flight to descend rapidly and avoid a collision. Also read: Who is Estes Carter Thompson III? American Airlines flight attendant jailed for filming girls The Los Angeles Times published an expert analysis on the incident, where they determined that if the pilots on the Southwest flight had not taken action, the two aircraft could have collided within 20 seconds. "Southwest is engaged with the Federal Aviation Administration to further understand the circumstances," the airlines said in a statement. "No injuries were immediately reported by Customers, but two Flight Attendants are being treated for injuries. "We appreciate the professionalism of our Flight Crew and Flight Attendants in responding to this event. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees."
Los Angeles Times
7 days ago
- General
- Los Angeles Times
Southwest flight from Burbank drops hundreds of feet to avoid possible collision
A Southwest flight climbing away from Burbank Airport suddenly descended hundreds of feet Friday afternoon, possibly to avoid a mid-air collision. The plane was at 14,100 feet above Angeles National Forest headed northeast to Las Vegas at 12:03 p.m. when it abruptly dropped to 13,625 feet, data from Flightradar24 showed. The drop of around 500 feet moments after the plane had been gaining altitude steadily since takeoff, causing tense moments on the plane. Passengers said on social media that they were startled but the move. Few details were immediately available Friday afternoon about exactly what prompted the pilot to make the emergency maneuver, though the posts claimed the pilot announced that the change in course was necessary to avoid a collision. The commercial flight had to climb and descend to comply with two onboard traffic alerts, Southwest spokesperson Lynn Lunsford said in a statement to The Times. 'The flight continued to Las Vegas, where it landed uneventfully,' the statement said. 'Southwest is engaged with the Federal Aviation Administration to further understand the circumstances.' 'No injuries were immediately reported by Customers, but two Flight Attendants are being treated for injuries,' Lunsford said. The Federal Aviation Administration did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the reports. A military jet was headed southwest to Naval Base Ventura County in Point Mugu and was at similar altitude — at 14,525 feet when the Southwest flight dropped, per Flightradar24. The planes were around 5 miles apart and within 400 vertical feet of one another headed in opposite directions when the Southwest flight took evasive action, flight data on the website showed. The fighter jet stopped its own steady descent and maintained its height for several minutes after the incident. The plane landed in Las Vegas at 12:39 p.m. Friday. There has been growing focus on aviation safety in recent months. A series of radar outages at Newark Liberty International airport brought massive flight delays in May. Federal officials continue to investigate the January collision in Washington between a commercial jet and a military helicopter that killed 67 people. In San Diego, a private jet crashed, and killing all six on board in June. A federal investigation found the aircraft was flying too low before it hit power lines and slammed into a house. The automated system that provides weather conditions and runway lights weren't operating at the airport before the plane crashed, the report confirmed. This is a developing story and will be updated.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
California lawmaker, Jay Leno seek to exempt classic cars from smog check requirements
A California lawmaker is teaming with comedian and renowned automotive enthusiast Jay Leno to seek an expansion of smog check exemptions for classic cars. State Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, introduced Senate Bill 712, all known as "Leno's Law," earlier this month. The bill, sponsored by its namesake celebrity, seeks to get rid of "unnecessary and burdensome smog check requirements for classic vehicles, ensuring they remain a celebrated part of California's culture and economy," according to statement from Grove's office. 'California has a rich automotive heritage, with some of the first classic cars rolling off assembly lines right here in our state, the senator said. 'These rolling pieces of history are more than just vehicles—they have strong cultural ties in our communities and supply thousands of jobs in the aftermarket parts industry." SB 712 would expand California's smog check exemptions to cover more classic cars. Under current law, vehicles manufactured before 1976 are exempt from biennial smog checks. Cars that are at least 35 years old may also be exempted, provided that they are s insured as collector motor vehicles, comply with emissions standards for their time and pass a functional inspection of the fuel cap and a visual inspection for liquid fuel leaks. The proposed legislation would expand the exemption to all vehicles at least 35 years old, so long as they are insured as collector motor vehicles. "Senate Bill 712 will update the current law to include all classic cars that are 35 years or older, allowing enthusiasts to enjoy their hobby without burdensome restrictions that are driving some collectors and industry businesses out of the state," the statement said. As a lifelong car collector with a collection at Burbank Airport encompassing more than 180 cars and 160 motorcycles, Leno said the changes makes sense. 'California's rich classic car culture, sparked by the post-war hot rod boom and boosted by Hollywood's love for chrome and horsepower, has made it a paradise for enthusiasts like me," he said. "From the start, California has been a driving force in shaping car culture, with deep ties to classic cars and a global reputation as a hub for these timeless machines." But as time has passed, the state's regulations of classic cars have fallen behind, Leno said. "California's smog check laws for classic cars need to be updated—they vary too much from state to state, and California's rules don't match up with neighboring ones," he said. "Our classic cars are only driven for special occasions, weekend drives and car shows. I am excited to work with Senator Grove on SB 712 to make it simpler for us to preserve these pieces of history." Beyond keeping icons of California's automotive history on the road, SB 712 would also provide support to the state's massive specialty automotive industry, according to Grove's office. The state's aftermarket automotive parts industry generates billions of dollars each year while supporting small businesses, according to the statement. "SB 712 aims to safeguard this economic engine while honoring the state's pioneering role in car culture." It's estimates that the aftermarket automotive industry results in more than $40 billion in economic impact annually, including more than 149,000 jobs and more than $6 billion in taxes paid, representatives of Grove's office added. "From car shows to weekend cruises, classic cars bring people together and keep our history vibrant," Grove said. "With Jay Leno's support, we're sending a clear message: California values its automotive roots and the communities that keep them running." The first hearing on the bill is expected to take place before the Senate Transportation Committee in April. The text of the bill can be found online at This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Jay Leno pushes for smog check exemptions for classic cars in California
