An Air France passenger aircraft narrowly avoided a collision with an American Airlines jet during takeoff at Los Angeles after making an unexpected turn that brought it dangerously close to the other plane, according to the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The incident involved Air France Flight 28, an Airbus A350 bound for Tahiti. After leaving the runway, the aircraft turned south instead of continuing straight ahead as expected.
The situation became more serious moments later when American Airlines Flight 1660, an Airbus A321 heading to Dallas, was cleared to depart from a nearby parallel runway.
Air traffic controllers quickly recognised the potential danger and instructed the Air France pilots to change direction. The crew followed the instructions, helping to prevent a possible collision.
Data from flight tracking service Flightradar24 showed that the two aircraft came within about 4,000 feet of each other horizontally, with less than 1,000 feet separating them vertically at their closest point.
Both planes eventually completed their journeys and landed safely at their destinations.
The FAA confirmed that controllers issued immediate instructions to correct the Air France aircraft’s course. During the communication, the controller also apologised to the American Airlines crew, explaining that the other plane had turned in front of them.
The incident is classified as a possible pilot deviation, a type of aviation safety violation that can attract regulatory penalties depending on the circumstances.
The near miss comes after a difficult summer for the United States aviation industry, which witnessed several aircraft crashes, emergency landings and other close calls. It has once again drawn attention to the importance of following flight instructions and maintaining effective communication between pilots and air traffic controllers.
