A Southwest Airline 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Two flight attendants on a Southwest Airlines Co. jet were injured Friday after the pilot had to maneuver sharply in response to alerts that another aircraft was in the vicinity.

Southwest Airlines will debut its new assigned seating policy in January 2026, bringing an end to the airline's once signature process of open seating.

Colorado officials issued evacuation orders for some residents in La Plata County on Saturday due to two wildfires burning in the area.