Air France Flight 28 entered the path of an American Airlines jet shortly after departing Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday, November 7, prompting urgent instructions from air traffic control and a federal investigation.
The Air France aircraft was flying from Los Angeles to Papeete, French Polynesia, while American Airlines Flight 1660 was departing from a parallel runway for Dallas-Fort Worth.
The incident occurred at about 12:20 a.m. local time, according to aviation authorities.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the Air France aircraft made an unauthorized turn after takeoff and moved into the path of another aircraft.
Controllers intervened before the two passenger jets collided.
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What happened after takeoff
Air traffic controllers directed the Air France crew to correct its flight path and turn back toward its assigned departure route.
At the same time, the American Airlines flight was instructed to reduce its altitude to 2,000 feet as controllers worked to establish greater separation between the aircraft.
Audio from the airport traffic-control frequency indicates that controllers repeatedly questioned the Air France crew about the unexpected turn.
The incident was later described as a possible pilot deviation, a term used when a flight crew does not follow an air-traffic-control instruction or assigned procedure.
Preliminary reports based on flight-tracking data placed the aircraft within several hundred feet vertically of each other during the encounter.
The exact separation and the sequence of crew and controller instructions will be examined as part of the investigation.
Air France confirms flight continued safely
Air France confirmed that the crew of Flight 28 received a request from air traffic control to adjust its flight path shortly after takeoff.
The airline said the crew followed the instructions and continued the flight to Papeete, where the aircraft landed normally at approximately 5:59 a.m. local time.
There were no reports of injuries, damage or diversions involving either aircraft.
FAA investigation now underway
The FAA is reviewing the incident, including the aircraft tracks, radio communications, departure clearances and the actions taken by both flight crews and air traffic controllers.
Investigators will also examine whether the turn resulted from a misunderstanding of the clearance, a navigation or cockpit-display issue, an operational error or another factor.
No final cause has been announced.
Aviation investigations into serious loss-of-separation events typically focus on the full chain of events rather than assigning responsibility based only on the first apparent error.
Why LAX departures require precise coordination
Los Angeles International Airport uses parallel runways and tightly coordinated departure routes.
Aircraft leaving at nearly the same time must follow assigned headings and altitude instructions so that their flight paths remain separated during the initial climb.
That coordination is especially important during overnight and high-volume operations, when multiple aircraft may be departing in similar directions from neighbouring runways.
The LAX incident also highlights the role of controllers in detecting unexpected flight-path changes and issuing corrective instructions before aircraft reach a critical point.
What happens next
The FAA is expected to review recorded communications and radar data before determining whether further action is required.
The agency may issue additional findings about the flight crew’s actions, controller instructions or airport departure procedures.
Any enforcement or safety recommendations would follow that review.
For passengers, the incident did not result in a reported crash, emergency landing or flight disruption.
Both aircraft continued to their scheduled destinations after the traffic-control intervention.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened between the Air France and American Airlines flights at LAX?
Air France Flight 28 made an unauthorized turn after takeoff and entered the path of American Airlines Flight 1660, prompting air traffic controllers to issue corrective instructions.
When did the LAX near-collision occur?
The incident occurred at about 12:20 a.m. local time on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
Where were the flights going?
Air France Flight 28 was bound for Papeete, French Polynesia, while American Airlines Flight 1660 was headed to Dallas-Fort Worth.
Were any passengers injured?
No injuries, aircraft damage or diversions were reported. Both flights continued to their destinations.
What is the FAA investigating?
The FAA is reviewing the flight paths, radio communications, departure clearances and the actions of the flight crews and air traffic controllers.
Fact-Checked: Key details were checked against Federal Aviation Administration information and Air France’s confirmation that the flight continued safely to Papeete.
Disclaimer: The FAA investigation remains ongoing, and the cause of the flight-path deviation has not been determined.