A terrifying near-miss unfolded at Los Angeles International Airport when an Air France jet, Flight 28, made an unauthorized turn shortly after takeoff, directly into the path of an American Airlines plane, Flight 1660, which had departed from a parallel runway. The incident occurred around 12:20 a.m. on November 7, as captured in tense air traffic control audio where controllers frantically issued instructions to reroute the aircraft. The FAA stated the Air France crew initiated a turn they had not been cleared for, bringing the two jets within 400 feet and less than a mile of each other. An aviation expert described the situation as dangerously close, emphasizing the critical role of the air traffic controller who, despite the Air France crew’s initial confusion about their assigned departure procedure (SUMMR TWO), managed to avert a potential catastrophe by issuing immediate corrective commands. The FAA is investigating the incident, highlighting the rarity but severity of such events in aviation.
Adapted from: Travel News Today on Fox News
