Air France Jet’s Unplanned Turn at LAX Sparks Investigation

Air France A350 and American Airlines Jet in Near Miss After Unauthorised Turn at LAX

On November 7, 2026, a close call occurred at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) when an Air France A350 aircraft turned into the path of an American Airlines jet. The incident, which is currently under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), involved two flights departing from parallel runways. While both aircraft landed safely and no injuries were reported, the event highlights the critical importance of precise air traffic control and pilot adherence to flight paths.

The FAA is looking into why the Air France A350 made an unauthorized turn shortly after takeoff. Air traffic controllers issued immediate instructions to correct the course, and the American Airlines flight was instructed to maintain a lower altitude. The closest the two planes came to each other was approximately 4,000 feet horizontally, with a vertical separation of about 1,000 feet.

Flight Paths and Deviations

Air France Flight 28 (AF28), bound for Papeete, had been cleared for the SUMMR2 departure from runway 24L. This departure route typically involves climbing on a 251-degree heading to 640 feet before proceeding to assigned waypoints. Around a minute after AF28 departed, American Airlines Flight 1660 (AA1660), heading to Dallas/Fort Worth, began its takeoff from the parallel runway 25R.

Instead of following the cleared SUMMR2 departure, the Air France A350 made a left turn, moving towards the flight path of the American Airlines jet. This deviation prompted the air traffic controller to instruct the Air France crew to fly a 270-degree heading. Simultaneously, the American Airlines crew was directed to maintain an altitude of 2,000 feet.

Air Traffic Control Intervention

The controller’s swift action was crucial in preventing a more serious situation. After the Air France pilots confirmed they had been assigned the SUMMR2 departure, the controller noted a “possible pilot deviation” and provided them with a number to call for follow-up. The American Airlines crew acknowledged the instruction to hold at 2,000 feet. Following the successful separation of the aircraft, the controller cleared AA1660 to climb to 17,000 feet with a speed restriction.

Ongoing Investigation and Potential Causes

The FAA has stated that its findings are preliminary and the investigation is ongoing. The agency has not yet provided a definitive reason for the Air France A350’s unauthorized turn. Air France has commented that its crew received a request from air traffic control to adjust their flight path shortly after takeoff and complied with the instructions. The airline confirmed that the aircraft landed without incident in Papeete.

One possible explanation offered by a flight instructor, though not an official finding, suggests that the flight crew might have inadvertently programmed an incorrect departure into the aircraft’s navigation system. This type of error, while rare, can lead to unexpected deviations from the intended flight path.

Precedent at LAX

This incident at LAX is not the first time an aircraft has deviated from its expected path after departing from runway 24L. On October 20, 2026, a TAP Air Portugal A330-900 also made an unexpected left turn after takeoff. Additionally, on October 31, 2025, an ITA Airways A330-900 turned towards an American Airlines A321 that was departing runway 25R, resulting in a reported horizontal separation of 0.6 nautical miles at the same altitude. These past events underscore the complexity of managing air traffic at busy airports and the constant need for vigilance from both pilots and air traffic controllers. The FAA’s final findings in the Air France incident will determine the official explanation for the near miss.

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