Air France and American Airlines jets nearly collide after wrong turn in midair over LAX

The FAA is investigating after two passenger jets narrowly avoided a midair collision shortly after taking off from Los Angeles International Airport when one aircraft reportedly made an unauthorized turn into the other’s flight path.

The close call occurred Saturday at approximately 12:20 a.m. after the pilots of Air France Flight 28, traveling from Los Angeles to Papeete, Tahiti, turned into the path of an American Airlines aircraft that had departed from a parallel runway, according to the FAA.

Flight tracking data indicates the two planes came within 400 feet vertically of each other, but air traffic controllers quickly stepped in to keep them apart.

“Air France 028 heavy, fly heading of 270 immediately,” a controller can be heard instructing the Air France crew in ATC audio.

The controller then warned the American Airlines flight about the approaching Air France jet. “Traffic alert, traffic 12 o’clock, less than a mile, maintain 2,000.”

The controller is heard repeatedly asking the Air France pilots why they deviated from their assigned route.

“Air France 028 Heavy, you were instructed to climb via SID not, uh, turn to a, uh, heading,” an air traffic controller told the pilots.

A standard instrument departure, or SID, is a published route programmed into the aircraft’s computer to stay on course manually or with auto-pilot, designed to guide aircraft safely away from an airport.

Seconds later, ATC asked, “Why did you turn to a heading?”

The pilots of the Air France flight said they were instructed to follow a particular departure procedure.

“We were instructed to fly SUMMR TWO departure,” a pilot is heard responding.

“Possible pilot deviation. I have a number for you to call when you’re ready,” the controller then said.

Such a request generally means air traffic control wants the pilots to contact authorities and discuss the incident.

“Sorry about that. That aircraft just turned in front of you,” the controller said to the American Airlines pilots after the danger passed.

The two aircraft, which likely carried a combined 500 passengers, continued to their destinations without any reported injuries.

The FAA is investigating the possible pilot deviation to determine whether the crew failed to follow instructions and whether further action is warranted.

With more than four decades as a flight instructor, commercial airline pilot and international pilot for the U.S. Air Force, Captain Richard Levy said this is a first he’s heard of this happening.

“I worked 41 years for a major airline,” he told KTLA’s Hailey Winslow. “I’ve never heard of an aircraft flying the wrong departure. And I’ve been in training most of my career, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen someone mis-program it.”

Captain Levy continued, “And how does that happen? We call it pilot error, a mistake, they may have programmed the wrong departure in the aircraft’s computer.”

Though it’s not part of the audio recording of this incident, Levy said a warning inside the aircrafts likely went off. The flight deck is equipped with a “traffic collision avoidance system” that alerts pilots when another aircraft is too close with a “resolution advisory” to “climb or descend,” he said.

The FAA issued a statement about the incident, saying, “The crew of Air France Flight 28 made an unauthorized turn after departing Los Angeles International Airport and went into the path of another aircraft that departed from a parallel runway. Air traffic control immediately issued corrective instructions to the Air France flight.”

An Air France spokesperson told KTLA, “Air France confirms that the crew of flight AF028, from Los Angeles to Papeete on 7 November 2026, received a request from air traffic control shortly after take-off to adjust its flight path. The crew immediately followed the instructions before continuing the flight. The aircraft landed normally in Papeete at 5:59 am (local time).”

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