A Southwest Airlines jet heading to Las Vegas from Southern California took a dramatic plunge shortly after takeoff Friday in response to an alert about a nearby plane, sending some passengers flying out of their seats and injuring two flight attendants.

The crew of a Las Vegas-bound Southwest Airlines plane flying out of Hollywood Burbank Airport on Friday responded to two onboard traffic alerts, which led to staff injuries, airline representatives said.

The Southwest Boeing 737 departed just before noon local time on Friday for a scheduled flight to Las Vegas. Six minutes after takeoff, a privately owned Hawker Hunter fighter jet crossed less than two miles in front of the Southwest plane, passing within a few hundred feet of the same altitude, according to flight tracking site Flightradar24.

Earlier this year, Southwest Airlines announced several major policy changes in an attempt to boost the airline's slumping profits. This was highlighted by the decision to begin charging for checked bags,

Passengers on a Southwest Airlines jet described a jarring drop on a flight from Hollywood Burbank Airport to Las Vegas that injured two flight attendants.

Wall Street investors punished Southwest for chopping its 2025 profit outlook by up to 65%, as the carrier’s executives implement changes driven by its activist investor.

Southwest Airlines' CEO told investors in a July 24 earnings call that the airline could eventually open its own lounges.

Just two months after ending its long-standing “Bags Fly Free” policy, the airline has announced when it will roll out assigned seating — a significant shift from its traditional boarding process. For decades, Southwest used a first-come, first-served system, along with free checked bags, that set it apart from its competitors.