A Southwest Airlines flight bound for Las Vegas from Southern California experienced a sudden drop in altitude on Friday, causing two flight attendants to sustain injuries and some passengers to be jolted out of their seats. The incident was caused by an onboard alert about a nearby aircraft, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Passenger Stef Zamorano, who was traveling to Las Vegas with her husband, described the frightening experience as a sudden jolt followed by a feeling of falling. She also witnessed a woman without a seat belt on being thrown out of her seat, with the man next to her holding onto her arm and another passenger panicking.

The plane, Southwest 1496, dropped approximately 300 feet in just 36 seconds, as shown by data from the flight tracking site FlightAware. The FAA has launched an investigation into the incident.

Passengers on the flight were reportedly given the option to deplane and take a different flight or continue on to Las Vegas. The injured flight attendants were treated at a local hospital and released, and the flight continued as scheduled.

Southwest Airlines released a statement regarding the incident, stating that the safety of their customers and employees is their top priority and they are cooperating with the FAA in their investigation.

The sudden drop in altitude and injuries sustained by the flight attendants serve as a reminder of the importance of following all safety procedures while on an aircraft. It is crucial for passengers to always wear their seat belts and for flight attendants to ensure that all passengers are properly secured.

The FAA has not released any further details about the incident at this time. The cause of the onboard alert and the nearby aircraft that prompted it are still under investigation. The affected flight, Southwest 1496, arrived safely in Las Vegas and passengers were able to continue with their travel plans.