Air France and American Airlines Jets Near-Miss Over Los Angeles
Two passenger jets narrowly avoided a mid-air collision after an Air France flight deviated from its assigned departure path near Los Angeles International Airport.
According to a report by Khaosod Online, a serious near-miss incident occurred near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) involving an Air France Airbus and an American Airlines Airbus. The incident took place on a Saturday morning as both aircraft were climbing after takeoff from adjacent runways. Air France flight 28, bound for Papeete, Tahiti, reportedly veered left, deviating from its authorized departure path and entering the flight corridor of the American Airlines flight heading to Dallas-Fort Worth. At the closest point of the encounter, the two aircraft were separated by a vertical distance of only 400 feet (approximately 122 meters). Air traffic control intervened with emergency instructions to prevent the planes from getting any closer, ensuring the safety of the approximately 500 passengers on board both flights. For travelers and residents, this incident highlights the critical importance of air traffic control protocols in busy airspace. While the immediate danger was averted, the exact cause of the Air France pilot's deviation remains to be confirmed by official aviation authorities. Investigations into the communication logs and flight data are expected to provide further clarity on how this navigational error occurred during the initial climb phase.
