A serious incident occurred on Friday, October 31, 2025, shortly after 4:00 PM local time at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). An ITA Airways Airbus A330-900 operating flight AZ621 to Rome and an American Airlines Airbus A321 on flight AA4 to New York (JFK) took off almost simultaneously from parallel runways. The two aircraft subsequently came within a few hundred metres of each other—approximately five seconds from a potential collision, according to available data.
Watch the radio communications and radar display here:
Incorrect Post-Takeoff Manoeuvre
According to radio communication records and flight path data, the ITA Airways Airbus A330 departed from runway 24L, while the American A321 took off from runway 25R. After departure, the Italian aircraft was supposed to initiate a right turn towards the Pacific Ocean; however, it instead made a left turn, putting it on a collision course with the American jet.
FAA Investigating the Incident
According to reports from media outlets such as People and the Daily Mail, the incident is now under investigation by both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The FAA confirmed that there were no injuries or physical contact between the aircraft, but the event has been classified as a Category A Near Mid-Air Collision, indicating a “high potential for collision.”
Investigators are now examining why the ITA Airways crew deviated from the prescribed departure procedure and whether the post-takeoff clearance was misinterpreted.
The Risks of Parallel Runway Operations
LAX utilises four parallel runways—24L/24R and 25L/25R—to manage its high traffic density, often with simultaneous departures and arrivals. While the runway separation is adequate, it necessitates strict adherence to Standard Instrument Departure (SID) procedures. Any unauthorized deviation from the assigned flight path can lead to a conflict with traffic in the adjacent corridor.
“At such a busy airport, precision and discipline are absolutely crucial. Even a minor error in timing or heading can have fatal consequences,” Mark Delaney, a former LAX air traffic controller, told Aviation24.
Crews and Systems Responded Correctly
Experts noted that the timely response from both the TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) and air traffic controllers was crucial. The American A321 halted its climb, and the ITA Airways Airbus corrected its course. “All the safety layers functioned as intended, but an incident like this should never have occurred in the first place,” Delaney added.
Lessons and Implications
The incident serves as a stark reminder that even with the extremely high safety standards in civil aviation, human factors remain a critical vulnerability. Both the FAA and its Italian counterpart, ENAC, have announced that they will review training standards for departures from airports with parallel runways once the investigation is complete.
Watch the original CBS news report here:
Sources: CPS, VASA Aviation, Aviation24, People, Daily Mail
