A Southwest Airlines flight was forced to perform evasive maneuvers after a midair collision alert sounded in its cockpit shortly after takeoff from Hollywood Burbank airport near Los Angeles. The Boeing 737, en route to Las Vegas, dropped about 475 feet before climbing back up 600 feet over the course of one minute.
The incident occurred when a privately owned Hawker Hunter fighter jet flew too close to the passenger plane, just 100 feet above it. Passengers reported hearing alarms and screaming as they feared a mechanical failure or impending crash.
Two flight attendants were treated for injuries, but no passengers were hurt in the incident. The pilots responded promptly, guiding the plane to avoid the midair collision. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident.
The Southwest Airlines jet did not declare an emergency and continued its 39-minute flight to Las Vegas, landing ahead of schedule. Most commercial planes are equipped with a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) that can detect nearby aircraft and alert pilots to take evasive action.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/25/us/southwest-fighter-jet-close-call