US Passenger Plane Dives 500 Feet After Midair Fighter Jet Alert, Injuring Crew

A Southwest Airlines flight departing from Hollywood Burbank Airport in California made a dramatic plunge shortly after takeoff to avoid a near midair collision with a Hawker Hunter fighter jet. The Boeing 737 dropped nearly 500 feet rapidly, causing panic among passengers and injuries to two flight attendants. The pilot responded to cockpit collision warnings by climbing and then descending to comply with alerts, narrowly avoiding the military aircraft, which crossed within a few miles laterally and about 350 feet vertically. Passengers described the event as terrifying, with some thrown from their seats during the abrupt maneuver. The flight continued safely to Las Vegas, where it landed without further incident, and the FAA is investigating the circumstances. Southwest Airlines and airport officials are reviewing the incident, which marks the fourth involving military aircraft since March near U.S. commercial flights.