The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating an incident in Los Angeles after an Air France Airbus made an “unauthorised turn” into the path of an American Airlines aircraft.
Air France flight 28 came close to the American Airlines aircraft as each took off from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on parallel runways.
According to the FAA, the pilots of the Air France flight “made an unauthorised turn” after departing LAX.
The incident occurred at around 12.20 am local time on 7 November.
The FAA said in a preliminary statement: “The crew of Air France Flight 28 made an unauthorised 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.”
Flight 28 was bound for Papeete, Tahiti and American Airlines flight 1660 was bound for Dallas Fort Worth, Texas.
Air traffic control (ATC) audio recordings warned the American Airlines pilots of the approaching jet and said: “Traffic alert, traffic 12 o’clock, less than a mile, maintain 2,000.”
Controllers then repeatedly asked the Air France pilots: “Why did you turn to a heading?”
Crew were also informed that the incident could be treated as a possible pilot deviation, a term used for any action by a pilot that violates an ATC instruction.
Both the Air France and American Airlines flights landed safely with no reported injuries.
The Independent has contacted Air France for comment.
It’s not the first near-miss at LAX this year.
In April, a Frontier Airlines jet nearly collided with two trucks that crossed in front of it at the airport.
The Frontier pilot was alarmed and used an expletive as he told the tower he had to slam on the brakes to avoid a collision.
“We just had two trucks cut us off,” the pilot said in audio posted by ATC.com. “We had to slam on the brakes to not hit them.”
“It happened so fast,” the pilot continued. “I had to go check on the flight attendants in the back. It was real close, the closest I've ever seen.”
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