Two passenger planes narrowly avoided colliding after Air France pilots made a wrong turn during takeoff. Air France Flight 28 was departing from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) shortly after midnight on Nov. 7, while American Airlines Flight 1660 was also departing on a parallel runway to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
The aircraft were less than a mile apart
Air traffic control (ATC) instructed Flight 28 to continue climbing using the SUMMR2 departure procedure, which directs westbound aircraft departing over the Pacific Ocean at LAX. Unless instructed otherwise, aircraft can climb to 23,000 feet under this rule. Shortly after takeoff, the plane made an unauthorised left turn into the path of the American Airlines flight.
The planes were less than a mile apart in what is known as a loss-of-separation event. This occurs when two or more aircraft come closer than the minimum safe horizontal or vertical distance regulated by air traffic control.
An air traffic controller noticed the issue and immediately ordered the pilots to turn the aircraft back towards the west. Seconds later, they issued a traffic warning to Flight 1660, asking them to maintain 2,000 feet.
The incident may be treated as a pilot deviation
The pilots of Flight 28 asked ATC to stand by after the controller questioned them, then eventually confirmed they had been instructed to use the SUMMR2 departure. The controller then warned them that the incident could be treated as pilot deviation, which includes any action by a pilot that violates an air traffic control instruction.
Both flights, carrying an estimated 500 passengers combined, continued to their destinations safely, and no one was harmed in the incident.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to investigate, but no official findings have been released on why the crew deviated from its assigned route. Air France has not issued any statements.
A similar event occurred at LAX recently, with a TAP Air Portugal flight to Lisbon also making an incorrect left turn on Oct. 20. After the crew corrected the mistake and climbed to 13,000 feet, ATC instructed them to turn left, but they turned right. After being asked if they were okay, the aircraft continued its journey to Lisbon without further incident.
On Oct. 31, 2025, an ITA Airways flight from LAX to Rome turned left toward an American Airlines flight taking off from the parallel runway. ATC intervened, and no further incident occurred. A similar incident occurred in June 2026, between a JetBlue flight and a flight school aircraft.
Why do you think this event has occurred multiple times? Let us know in the comments.
