Controllers intervene after Air France jet turns toward American plane

Air traffic controllers intervened after Air France Flight 28 turned toward American Airlines Flight 1660 shortly after departing Los Angeles International Airport on November 7. Both aircraft continued to their destinations, and reports said there were no injuries or aircraft damage.

The Federal Aviation Administration said Flight 28 made an unauthorized turn after taking off just after midnight, putting it in the path of an aircraft departing from a parallel runway. The Air France flight was bound for Papeete, Tahiti, while American Airlines Flight 1660 was headed to Dallas-Fort Worth.

Air traffic control audio records a controller directing the Air France crew to turn immediately and telling the American Airlines crew to maintain an altitude of 2,000 feet. Both crews acknowledged the instructions. The FAA said controllers issued corrective instructions to the Air France flight, and Air France said its crew followed the request shortly after takeoff before continuing the flight.

Reports differ on how close the aircraft came vertically. Several accounts put the closest separation at about 300 to 400 feet. Another report, citing Flightradar24, gave an estimate of 1,000 feet...