South West Near Miss

Near Miss in the Sky: Why I'm Not Getting on a Plane (or Cruise Ship, or Electric Car) Anytime Soon!

Y'all, I was just minding my own business, scrolling through Instagram, and what do I see? Another near-miss aviation nightmare! Seriously, it's getting wild out there. First, it was the Southwest jet almost colliding mid-air, then the cruise ships going crazy, and don't even get me started on these electric cars! It's making me genuinely scared to leave the house, and trust me, I'd rather be deep in the woods than stuck indoors.

This latest incident involves a Southwest Airlines flight (Flight 1496) that departed from Hollywood Burbank Airport. According to ABC News and Fox 11 Los Angeles, just six minutes into its flight, the plane abruptly descended 500 feet from 14,100 feet to 13,625 feet to avoid another aircraft, a Hawker Hunter. Now, if you're like me, you probably heard "Hawker Hunter" and immediately thought, "Isn't that Joe's son?" The internet's buzzing about it, and while the exact connection isn't clear, it definitely adds a bizarre layer to an already terrifying story.

Can you even imagine? A 500-foot drop in a matter of seconds! Passengers described it like a "Tower of Terror" ride, with some even flying out of their seats and bumping their heads on the ceiling. One passenger, Kathleen Birdie, told Fox News Digital that it felt like they plummeted 20 to 30 feet, but honey, the official reports say it was a full 500! That kind of freefall would make gravity feel non-existent, or maybe super-existent, depending on how you look at it.

The pilot, a true hero in my book, immediately went on the intercom to explain that they'd almost collided with another plane and had reportedly lost communication with air traffic control. Despite the terrifying descent, the pilot managed to land the plane safely in Las Vegas. However, it wasn't without consequences. Two flight attendants were treated for injuries, and at least one passenger was transported to a Las Vegas hospital.

Southwest Airlines issued a statement saying their crew responded to "onboard traffic alerts," requiring them to "climb and descend to comply with the alerts." While they stated "no injuries were immediately reported by customers," we know from other reports that some people definitely got banged up. These flight attendants probably experienced psychological trauma on top of their physical injuries. Honestly, Southwest should be giving them unemployment compensation and some serious time off.

And what about the passengers? They deserve full refunds for that terrifying experience! This pilot saved everyone's life, and they deserve a massive raise and at least two months of fully paid time off. They literally saved the day, and we need more pilots like them.

After hearing all this, I'm sticking to my bikes. Seriously, I'm pedaling everywhere until further notice. I'm not getting on an airplane, a cruise ship, or even driving an electric car right now. If you choose to, that's on you! But me? I'm staying grounded.

What do you all think about these escalating travel incidents? Has this story made you rethink your travel plans? Let me know in the comments below I'm genuinely curious how you all are feeling about getting out there!