A near-miss incident occurred at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Wednesday, April 8, when an Air France flight was forced to abort its takeoff due to another aircraft crossing the runway without permission. The Air France Boeing 777-300ER was cleared for takeoff by air traffic controllers when a Gulfstream jet entered the runway without authorization.
The incident is currently under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), with audio recordings obtained by NBC4 providing insight into the events leading up to the near-miss. The Gulfstream G650ER had just landed from San Francisco International Airport and was instructed to hold short on runway 24L, but it still crossed the hold short line.
The pilot of the Gulfstream acknowledged the instruction, but failed to heed the warning, which ultimately led to the Air France flight being forced to reject its takeoff. The aircraft was able to slow safely and re-attempt its departure without incident.
No passengers were injured in the incident, which is a testament to the quick thinking and sharp reflexes of the pilots involved. However, the near-miss serves as a reminder of the importance of strict adherence to air traffic control instructions during takeoff procedures.
The FAA is investigating this incident, which comes just weeks after a fatal incident at LaGuardia Airport where an Air Canada Express flight collided with an airport fire truck.
Air France operates multiple daily flights between Los Angeles and Paris, with the AF25 flight being an early evening departure that takes around ten hours to reach its destination. The aircraft involved in the near-miss is an 11-year-old Boeing 777-328ER, which was delivered to Air France in 2015.
The incident highlights the need for pilots to remain vigilant during takeoff procedures and for air traffic controllers to ensure strict adherence to instructions. The FAA's investigation will aim to determine the root cause of the near-miss and implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Gulfstream jet involved in the incident was a G650ER, which is a high-performance business jet known for its speed and range. Its entry onto the runway without authorization raised concerns among air traffic controllers and pilots alike.
Fortunately, no passengers were injured in the near-miss, and the Air France flight was able to continue to Paris without incident. However, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of strict adherence to air traffic control instructions during takeoff procedures.
The incident highlights the importance of strict adherence to air traffic control instructions and the need for pilots to remain vigilant during takeoff procedures.
