There were no reported injuries, per KTLA

Stock image of an Air France planeCredit: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty
Stock image of an Air France plane
Credit: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

  • An Air France flight nearly collided with an American Airlines plane on Saturday, Nov. 7
  • The incident occurred as both planes were taking off from LAX, per the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
  • The FAA said Air France Flight 28 “made an unauthorized turn” after departing the airport, causing it to go “into the path of another aircraft that departed from a parallel runway”

Two passenger planes nearly collided midair when one entered the other’s flight path on Saturday, Nov. 7.

The incident involved an Air France and an American Airlines plane at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) around 12:20 a.m. local time on Saturday, Nov. 7.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told PEOPLE in a statement that Air France Flight 28 “made an unauthorized turn” after departing the 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,” the FAA said.

A controller can be heard in ATC audio immediately telling the Air France crew, “Air France 028 heavy, fly heading of 270 immediately … Traffic alert, traffic 12 o’clock, less than a mile, maintain 2,000.”

The Air France pilot is later asked again why they deviated from their path.

“Air France 028 Heavy, you were instructed to climb via [Standard Instrument Departure Route] SID, not turn a heading,” a controller tells the pilot, referring to the plane’s pre-planned flight rules and guide.

After being asked what procedure they were following, a pilot is heard saying, “Give me a minute,” to which the controller responds, “No problem.”

“We were instructed to fly SUMMR TWO departure,” another pilot states before the first pilot confirms they were flying the SUMMR TWO departure.

A spokesperson for Air France confirmed to KTLA that the “crew of flight AF028, from Los Angeles to Papeete on 7 November 2026, received a request from air traffic control shortly after take-off to adjust its flight path.”

“The crew immediately followed the instructions before continuing the flight. The aircraft landed normally in Papeete at 5:59 am (local time),” the statement said.

There were no reported injuries, per the outlet.

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PEOPLE has reached out to Air France and American Airlines for comment.



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