A Southwest Airlines flight departing from Burbank Airport experienced a sudden mid-air drop of nearly 500 feet on Friday afternoon,

The sudden maneuver was made during a Friday flight out of California after two collision safety alerts sounded in the cockpit, causing the pilots to take evasive action, the airline said.

A US passenger plane made a dramatic plunge just minutes after take-off in a bid to avoid another aircraft, leaving passengers panicked and two cabin crew injured. The Southwest Airlines flight had just departed from Burbank, California, when the pilot received an alert about a nearby aircraft in its path.

A Southwest Airlines flight from Burbank to Las Vegas plunged 475 feet shortly after take-off on Friday to avoid a potential mid-air collision, injuring two flight attendants. The pilot responded to onboard alerts about another aircraft,

Southwest Airlines will switch to assigned seats on Jan. 27, 2026, the airline announced. Seat assignments will go on sale July 29, 2025.

Southwest Airlines no longer includes two free checked bags for all fares. Here’s who still qualifies, how much fees cost, and how it compares to other airlines.