It was just past midnight at Los Angeles International Airport when a routine departure turned into a moment of high tension. An Air France Airbus A350, bound for Tahiti, made an unauthorized turn after taking off and crossed into the path of an American Airlines flight that was climbing out from a parallel runway. The FAA is now investigating what went wrong.
The incident unfolded around 12:20 am on November 7. Air France Flight 28 had just left runway 24L, heading for Papeete, when it banked south instead of following its assigned departure route. Moments later, American Airlines Flight 1660, an Airbus A321 headed to Dallas Fort Worth, was cleared for takeoff from runway 25R. The two aircraft were converging, and air traffic control noticed fast.
Radio communications captured by ATC.com reveal the urgency. The controller ordered the Air France pilots to turn immediately to a heading of 270 degrees, taking them west and away from the American jet. Then came the warning to the American crew: "Traffic alert, traffic 12 o'clock, less than a mile, maintain 2,000." At their closest, the aircraft were about 4,000 feet apart laterally, with less than 1,000 feet of vertical separation, according to Flightradar24 data.
Both flights landed safely, with no injuries reported. But the close call has raised questions about why the Air France crew deviated from their clearance. In a subsequent exchange, the controller asked which departure procedure they were following. One pilot replied, "Give me a minute." The crew eventually identified their assigned route as the SUMMR TWO departure. The controller later told the American pilots, "Sorry about that. That aircraft just turned in front of you. They were instructed they were on the right departure, but you know, pilot deviation."
Air France told Los Angeles broadcaster KTLA that its crew had followed the controller's instruction to change course immediately and that the flight continued to Tahiti, landing normally in Papeete at 5:59 am local time. The airline's statement did not explain the initial turn. The FAA's preliminary statement said the Air France crew "made an unauthorised turn after departing Los Angeles International Airport and went into the path of another aircraft that departed from a parallel runway."
This incident is part of a worrying pattern of close calls at LAX. In April, two trucks crossed in front of a Frontier Airlines jet, forcing the pilot to brake hard. "It happened so fast," the pilot said in audio posted by ATC.com. "I had to go check on the flight attendants in the back. It was real close, the closest I've ever seen."
For travelers, these events are a reminder that air traffic control is a high-stakes ballet, and even a small misstep can create a dangerous moment. The FAA's investigation will likely focus on whether the Air France crew misread their clearance or if there was a communication breakdown. The incident occurred at around 12:20 am local time, a period when fatigue can be a factor, though the airline has not commented on that.
If you're flying out of LAX, you might wonder how such things happen. The airport's parallel runways are designed to handle heavy traffic, but they require precise adherence to departure procedures. Both flights landed safely, with no injuries reported, but the margin for error was slim. The FAA's probe will determine if any changes are needed to prevent a repeat.
For now, the takeaway for travelers is that aviation safety relies on constant vigilance. While incidents like this are rare, they underscore the importance of robust training and clear communication. If you're planning a trip, you might also want to check out how airlines are handling other challenges, like rising fuel costs that could affect your summer flights or new pricing transparency rules. And if you're curious about the latest in aviation luxury, Singapore Airlines is spending big to redefine the flying experience.
