The Southwest flight 1496 to Las Vegas swiftly descended to avoid a midair collision after takeoff from Burbank.

Alarms sounded in the cockpit of a Southwest Airlines jet shortly after taking off from Hollywood Burbank airport near Los Angeles on Friday, prompting evasive maneuvers, the airline said in a statement.

A passenger who was on board the Southwest Airlines flight that was forced to make a mid-air maneuver to avoid a collision with another plane spoke to NBC News on Saturday, saying that the “entire plane was screaming” when it suddenly descended after takeoff.

Starting Jan. 27, Southwest Airlines passengers will get assigned seats for the first time, marking a major shift in the carrier’s business model.

While American, Delta, United, JetBlue, and Alaska all fly to Canada, Southwest Airlines has long resisted adding flights to any Canadian city. It's a somewhat surprising move for an airline of its size and notoriety, but there are reasons for the decision.

Southwest Airlines hiked annual fees on its credit cards, but also announced a host of new benefits and other changes.

Southwest passengers will be assigned seats, ending the chaotic scramble of its current open seating plan. The ability to choose your seat opens July 29, 2025, for flights departing in 2026 and beyond.