A Southwest Airlines flight made a sudden and steep descent on July 24 to avoid a midair collision before landing safely in Las Vegas. Flight tracking data shows the Boeing 737 dropped nearly 500 feet (over 150 meters) in just over 30 seconds.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Flight 1496 received an onboard collision alert, prompting emergency maneuvers. Southwest confirmed that the crew responded to two separate alerts—first climbing, then descending. The FAA is investigating the incident.
While modern planes are safer than ever thanks to advanced technology and stricter regulations, flight-related incidents are once again making headlines. Experts point to factors like pilot and air traffic controller fatigue, maintenance issues, and staffing shortages as growing concerns. On top of that, climate change is introducing more unpredictable and hazardous flying conditions, from extreme turbulence to sudden weather shifts.
Click through this gallery to see how the world’s changing weather, combined with human and technical factors, are making flying riskier than before.