FAA Investigates Near-Miss Incident at LAX

Federal aviation authorities have launched an investigation into a concerning midair close call that occurred at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) early on November 7. The incident involved an Air France Airbus A350-900 and an American Airlines Airbus A321-200, both of which had recently departed from the airport's parallel runways. According to reports, the Air France flight, bound for Tahiti, veered from its designated departure route shortly after takeoff, placing it directly in the path of the American Airlines jet heading to Dallas.

Data from flight tracking services indicates that the two aircraft came dangerously close, with some estimates suggesting a vertical separation of only 400 feet. Air traffic controllers at LAX identified the deviation immediately and intervened to prevent a collision. Audio recordings from the event reveal that controllers issued urgent commands to the Air France crew to correct their heading, while simultaneously instructing the American Airlines pilots to adjust their altitude to maintain safe spacing.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has characterized the event as a possible pilot deviation, noting that the Air France aircraft failed to follow its assigned departure procedure. While the investigation remains in its preliminary stages, officials are working to determine why the unauthorized turn occurred. Both flights were able to continue to their respective destinations without further incident, and no injuries were reported among the passengers or crew.

This event highlights the critical importance of strict adherence to air traffic control protocols during the high-traffic departure phase of flight operations. As the FAA continues its review, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the complex coordination required to manage simultaneous departures at one of the world's busiest airports. Further findings from the investigation are expected to be released as the agency completes its analysis of the flight data and communication logs.