Air France Flight Stops Takeoff at LAX Due to Runway Incursion
FAA Investigates Runway Incursion at LAX Involving Air France Flight
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently investigating a runway incursion that prompted air traffic controllers to cancel the takeoff clearance for an Air France flight at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Wednesday evening.
The incident occurred at approximately 6:15 p.m. involving Air France Flight 25, a Boeing 777-300ER bound for Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. According to the FAA, the clearance was revoked after another aircraft, a Gulfstream G650ER, turned onto the runway without authorization.
Audio recordings from the air traffic control tower reveal that the pilot of the Air France flight rejected the takeoff while under power on the runway. This decision came after the crew was alerted to the situation by runway warning lights. Controllers explained that the Gulfstream jet had crossed the hold short line and entered the runway’s path.
The Gulfstream had just completed a landing at LAX after a short flight from San Francisco International Airport. Following the landing, air traffic controllers had instructed the Gulfstream’s pilot to hold short of runway 24L, which was acknowledged in the recordings.
The Boeing 777-300ER, configured to accommodate up to 369 passengers plus crew, managed to slow down safely and experienced only a slight delay before continuing its journey.
In a related and separate incident just hours later, a Frontier Airlines flight also encountered a near miss at LAX. The pilot of an Airbus A321 was forced to slam on the brakes to avoid colliding with two service trucks on the runway. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in either situation.
The FAA has initiated investigations into both incidents and has been in contact with representatives from Air France and the owner of the Gulfstream involved, but responses have not yet been received.
