A routine Allegiant Air flight from Fort Lauderdale to Lexington became a terrifying ordeal for passengers when the plane had to execute a swift 600-foot climb to narrowly avert a collision with a private jet. Jerrica Thacker, a passenger on her second-ever flight, recounted the heart-stopping incident to Fox News Digital.

Approximately 20 minutes after takeoff, the Airbus A320 experienced a sudden drop, which passengers initially mistook for turbulence. Thacker described the sensation as similar to a roller coaster's rapid descent. The pilot later revealed the true cause: a near head-on collision with a Gulfstream business jet. The abrupt climb, designed to avoid the private jet, sent two flight attendants tumbling to the floor. Thacker, paralyzed with fear, gripped the handrails, while her twin sister wept and a fellow passenger prayed.

Due to an injury sustained by one of the flight attendants during the evasive maneuver, the plane returned to Fort Lauderdale. The pilot's announcement prompted some passengers to close their window shades, fearful of the view outside. Thacker described the remaining 20 minutes before landing as agonizingly stressful.

Upon landing, a flight attendant confided in Thacker's sister's boyfriend that the pilot's experience had been crucial in preventing a catastrophic outcome. Allegiant Airlines offered passengers vouchers, but Thacker, understandably shaken, expressed a reluctance to fly again. She and her family opted for a 14-hour drive back to Kentucky.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the incident, stating that the Airbus A320 pilot received an automated alert about the conflicting aircraft and initiated the evasive climb. The pilot of the Gulfstream also took evasive action after being alerted by air traffic control. The FAA is currently investigating the incident.