Passenger Jets Narrowly Avoid Midair Collision After LAX Takeoff

LOS ANGELES - Air traffic controllers ordered an American Airlines jet down to 2,000 feet and directed an Air France crew back toward its assigned departure route after the Air France jet veered toward the American plane's flight path shortly after takeoff from Los Angeles International Airport, according to City News Service.

The intervention helped avert a possible midair collision early Saturday. By Monday, the incident was under investigation.The two passenger jets departed around 12:20 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, heading in the same direction at roughly the same time, authorities said. The Air France flight was bound for Papeete, Tahiti, while the American Airlines plane was headed to Dallas.Recorded exchanges between pilots and air traffic controllers indicated the Air France jet turned left during its climb, toward the American Airlines flight's path, according to CNS. Controllers instructed the Air France pilots to turn right to regain their assigned course while directing the American crew to reduce its altitude to 2,000 feet.After repeated questions from controllers, the Air France pilots acknowledged departing from their assigned flight path, CNS reported. A controller told the crew the incident would be reported as a "possible pilot deviation," which could lead to disciplinary action.Air France said its crew complied with the course correction and continued to Tahiti.In a statement to KTLA5, the airline said, "Air France confirms 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)."Editor's Note: This story includes reporting from City News Service, a content partner of Westside Current.