Air France and American Airlines aircraft narrowly avoid mid-air collision in Los Angeles

Two passenger jets narrowly avoided a collision near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in the early hours of November 7. The incident occurred shortly after midnight when Air France Flight 28, an Airbus A350 bound for Tahiti, performed an unauthorized left turn following takeoff.

This maneuver placed the Air France aircraft directly in the path of American Airlines Flight 1660, an Airbus A321 traveling to Dallas-Fort Worth. Air traffic controllers identified the loss-of-separation event, noting the planes were less than a mile apart. Controllers immediately issued emergency instructions, ordering the Air France crew to return to their original heading and directing the American Airlines flight to adjust its altitude.

Both aircraft, carrying an estimated 500 passengers combined, reached their destinations safely without injury. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident, which may be treated as a pilot deviation if it is determined the crew violated air traffic control instructions.