Air France and American Airlines planes nearly collided after takeoff from Los Angeles airport: What happened?

An Air France Airbus A350-900 and an American Airlines Airbus A321 reportedly came within 400 feet (121 meters) of vertical separation shortly after takeoff from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on November 7, 2026, triggering an air traffic control alert and emergency instructions to avoid a potential mid-air collision.

The incident occurred when the two planes departed for different destinations approximately a minute apart. According to numerous aviation reports, the Air France plane allegedly made an unauthorized left turn shortly after takeoff, deviating from the assigned departure procedure and entering a conflicting flight path with the American Airlines plane.

Air traffic controllers responded by issuing immediate heading and altitude instructions to both flight crews, according to the report. Neither aircraft reported injuries or damage and both continued towards their intended targets.

The incident involved Air France Flight AF28 bound for Papeete, French Polynesia and American Airlines Flight AA1660 bound for Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Texas.

When did the incident occur?

Air France flight AF28 took off from runway 24L at LAX on November 7 around 12:15 local time, according to flight reports. Airbus A350-900, registered F-HUVK, was operating a flight to Papeete, French Polynesia.

American Airlines Flight AA1660, an Airbus A321-200 registered N191UW, departed parallel runway 25R at approximately 12:16 p.m. It was bound for Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Both flights were operated on separate departure routes to maintain safe distances between the aircraft during their initial climb. However, the order changed shortly after the Air France plane took off.

What led to the near-collision?

According to reports from aviation publications including aviationa2z, Flightdeck and Simple Flying, the Air France A350 has been cleared to follow the SUMMR2 Standard Instrument Departure (SID).

The procedure requires aircraft departing Runways 24L/R and 25L/R to first climb straight ahead before maintaining the prescribed route and making subsequent turns.

However, the Air France plane reportedly made an unexpected left turn shortly after takeoff instead of continuing on its assigned departure runway. This brought him into the path of American Airlines A321, which was climbing out of an adjacent runway.

The American Airlines plane was instructed to maintain an altitude of 2,000 feet while the Air France jet completed its departure maneuver. The unexpected turn caused a conflict between the two planes, which required an immediate response from air traffic controllers.

Initial flight tracking data indicated the closest vertical distance was approximately 400 feet (121 meters). Some subsequent reports put the number closer to 300 feet, so the exact minimum distance remains subject to verification.

When did TurbineTraveler post the incident on X?

The incident gained wider attention after aviation commentator TurbineTraveler shared air traffic control and flight tracking information on the X on November 8.

How did air traffic controllers prevent the crash?

After identifying the developing conflict, the departure controller issued urgent instructions to both aircraft.

– Air France AF28: The crew of the A350 was instructed to turn immediately to a course of 270 degrees.

– American Airlines AA1660: The crew of the A321 were told to maintain an altitude of 2,000 feet rather than continue climbing.

– Traffic Alert: American Airlines pilots were alerted to another aircraft approaching from their position at 12 o’clock, less than a mile away.

The controller then asked the Air France crew about their departure instructions and reminded the pilots that they had been cleared to follow the SUMMR2 procedure rather than divert to another course.

What happened to those two flights?

After the hit, both planes were able to continue their journey.

American Airlines Flight AA1660 was subsequently cleared to climb to 17,000 feet and continue toward Dallas/Fort Worth. The Air France A350 continued towards Papeete.

None of the airlines reported any injuries or damage to the aircraft in connection with the incident.

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Is the cause of the incident known?

A reported departure deviation was identified as the immediate trigger for the department loss event. However, the exact cause of the Air France plane’s unexpected left turn was not determined in the available reports.

There is no publicly confirmed explanation as to why the plane departed from its assigned route. It is unclear whether the incident involved a misunderstanding of instructions, a navigation-related issue or another operational factor.

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