Latest news with #Ulasewicz
Arab Times
5 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
5 days ago
- General
- Time of India
'It was pandemonium': Southwest flight plummets 14,100 feet in minutes ‘in a free fall' to avoid ‘midair collision'
Two flight attendants were injured after a commercial Southwest Airlines jet suddenly dropped 475 feet to avoid a 'midair collision' shortly after takeoff at a Los Angeles-area airport Friday. Passengers posted online that the pilot was forced to rapidly change course to avoid a potential collision with another aircraft. Flight 1496 from Hollywood Burbank Airport to Las Vegas plummeted rapidly, lifting passengers out of their seats. The crew "responded to two onboard traffic alerts... requiring them to climb and descend to comply with the alerts", Southwest said in a statement. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Public Policy Product Management Operations Management Healthcare MBA others Cybersecurity Design Thinking Others healthcare Artificial Intelligence Project Management MCA PGDM Data Analytics Degree CXO Finance Management Leadership Data Science Data Science Digital Marketing Technology Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Calcutta Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Economics for Public Policy Making Quantitative Techniques Public & Project Finance Law, Health & Urban Development Policy Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Professional Certificate Programme in Public Policy Management Starts on Mar 3, 2024 Get Details The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it was investigating the "incident". It comes less than one week after a similar near-miss. According to FlightRadar24 data, Southwest Flight 1496 dove from 14,100 feet to 13,625 feet just six minutes after taking off from Hollywood Burbank Airport. The pilot told concerned flyers hat the drastic maneuver was carried out to avoid 'a midair collision,' passenger Steve Ulasewicz told ABC News. ALSO READ: Happy Gilmore 2 declared a must watch by Taylor Swift with 13/10 review. The reason is totally expected Live Events Felt like a "significant drop" Steve Ulasewicz said they experienced what felt like a "significant drop" when the pilot announced that they had performed the maneuver to "avoid a mid-air collision." "There was about, I would say, eight-second, 8 to 10-second drop of free fall," Ulasewicz said. "Never experienced that. Everybody in the plane started screaming. Definitely felt like that was it. Like this is how I'm going to go out. 'The plane was just in a free fall. It was pandemonium,' he told NBC 4 Los Angeles. The pilot told passengers in an onboard update after the scare that the plane used software to make the evasive move, Ulasewicz told NBC. Comedian Jimmy Dore was on the flight, relaying that he and several other flyers were tossed about the cabin during the startling descent. 'Pilot had to dive aggressively to avoid midair collision over Burbank airport,' he wrote on X after landing in Sin City. 'Myself & Plenty of people flew out of their seats & bumped heads on ceiling, a flight attendant needed medical attention,' the California-based funnyman, 60, said. ALSO READ: Largest great white shark ever captured in Florida leaves scientists stunned. It measures 13.8 feet and weighs 1,653 pounds Dore's manager was also on the plane and was floored by the near-catastrophe. 'We're driving home,' Stef Zamoramo said in a video posted on X from the cabin. The passenger also said a flight attendant was injured and met by medical personnel once the plane arrived in Las Vegas. SouthWest Airlines issues statement Southwest said in a statement that its pilots were responding to two onboard traffic alerts and that the descent action was to 'comply' with those warnings. ALSO READ: Zac Brown's fiancée Kendra Scott is a billion-dollar boss: How she conquered the jewelry world "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. 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."
Metro
5 days ago
- General
- Metro
Plane drops 500 feet to 'avoid mid-air collision' with British jet fighter
A Southwest Airlines plane abruptly dropped 500 feet reportedly to avoid a mid-air collision with a British jet fighter. Flight 1496 plummeted from 14,100 feet to 13,625 feet in only six minutes shortly after departing from Hollywood Burbank Airport in California on Friday. Passenger Steve Ulasewicz said he 'felt a significant drop' that lasted eight to 10 seconds and that 'the plane was just in a freefall'. 'People were screaming,' Ulasewicz told NBCLA. 'It was pandemonium.' He said the pilot announced that the plane used software to avoid getting into a mid-air collision. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Boy dies after being 'left in hot car by child services driver shopping for tobacco' MORE: Trump says 'I'll give you a list' of Epstein associates and 'I'm allowed' to pardon Maxwell MORE: M11 traffic blocked in both directions after two crashes near Stansted
