With fears of planes falling from the sky already running high, two passenger jets came dangerously close to colliding over Los Angeles, as air traffic controllers demanded action from a pilot who replied, “Give me a minute.”
On Nov. 7, around 12:20 a.m., an Air France jet and an American Airlines plane carrying a combined 500 passengers narrowly avoided a midair collision shortly after taking off from parallel runways at LAX.
The Air France jet veered into the other aircraft’s flight path, prompting air traffic controllers (ATC) to urgently intervene as the planes climbed away from the airport.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Air France Flight 28 “made an unauthorized turn” after departure, sending it “into the path of another aircraft that departed from a parallel runway.”
“ATC immediately issued corrective instructions to the Air France flight,” the agency said in a statement to People.
‘Less than a mile’ from colliding
The urgency of those instructions can be heard in ATC recordings, as a controller directs the Air France crew to change course while warning that another aircraft is less than a mile away.
“Air France 028 heavy, fly heading of 270 immediately…Traffic alert, traffic 12 o’clock, less than a mile, maintain 2,000,” ATC said.
According to ABC7, flight-tracking data showed just 400 feet of altitude separating the jets, with roughly 4,600 feet between them horizontally.
‘Give me a minute’
As the planes can be seen inching dangerously close over the Pacific, the controller is heard repeatedly demanding an explanation from the Air France pilots for failing to follow their assigned flight path.
“Air France 028 Heavy, you were instructed to climb via [Standard Instrument Departure Route] SID, not turn a heading,” the controller said, referring to the published route pilots are expected to follow after takeoff.
“Why did you turn to a heading?” ATC asked when the planes were at a safe distance.
“Standby,” one pilot replied as he was pressed for a response. “We were…Give me a minute,” he said.
“No problem,” the controller answered.
Another pilot then explained, “We were instructed to fly SUMMR TWO departure,” before the first pilot confirmed that was the route they believed they had been assigned.
“SUMMR TWO” refers to flights from LAX over the Pacific Ocean.
‘Aircraft just turned in front of you’
“Possible pilot deviation. I have a number for you to call when you’re ready,” the controller then said, indicating that the crew would need to discuss the incident with aviation authorities.
The controller also acknowledged the frightening encounter to the American Airlines crew.
“Sorry about that. That aircraft just turned in front of you,” the controller said to the American Airlines pilots after the danger passed.
Air France later confirmed that ATC requested a course correction shortly after takeoff.
“The crew immediately followed the instructions before continuing the flight. The aircraft landed normally in Papeete at 5:59 a.m. (local time),” an airline spokesperson told KTLA.
Read more:
