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Terrifying close call at LAX after Air France jet makes wrong turn in midair
An Air France Airbus and an American Airlines Airbus narrowly avoided a midair collision after departing Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday. The Air France jet turned off its assigned route and entered the American plane’s flight path, prompting urgent instructions from air traffic control.
The aircraft came within about 400 feet vertically of one another and continued to their destinations without reported injuries. Controllers directed the Air France crew to turn and warned the American Airlines pilots to maintain 2,000 feet; afterwards, they questioned the Air France crew about its departure instructions and flagged a possible pilot deviation. The cause of the turn is unclear, and the FAA is expected to investigate possible deviations.
In short
- Two jets came within about 400 feet vertically after take-off from LAX.
- Air traffic control issued urgent instructions to both crews.
- The cause of the Air France jet’s route deviation is unclear.
Explained simply
Air traffic controllers at Los Angeles International Airport direct departing aircraft along set routes and at assigned altitudes to keep them safely separated. Pilots follow those instructions while communicating with controllers, who can issue changes if aircraft are on conflicting paths.
Air France and American Airlines are international carriers that operate large passenger aircraft. A possible deviation from a flight instruction can be reviewed by the Federal Aviation Administration, the US agency responsible for civil aviation safety and oversight; the circumstances and cause are assessed as part of that process.