An American Airlines jet was forced to abort takeoff at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) after a cargo aircraft entered its runway without authorization, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed.
How the Incident Unfolded
The event occurred on Sunday at 10:35 p.m. local time.
- AeroLogic Flight 619 was taxiing to its gate when it mistakenly crossed in front of American Airlines Flight 2453, which had already been cleared for takeoff.
- The American Airlines aircraft was accelerating at roughly 154 mph and nearly airborne when air traffic control instructed an immediate abort.
- At their closest point, the two aircraft were about 5,200 feet (1 mile) apart, according to the FAA.
Why a Tragedy Was Avoided
Aviation analyst Steve Ganyard told ABC News that runway length played a critical role in preventing disaster:
“What was fortunate here is that the runway the American jet was taking off on is almost two and a half miles long. There was plenty of room for the American jet to abort; they only got within about a mile. If it had been a shorter runway or a different airport, this could have been a tragedy.”
What Happened to the Flight
- The Boston-bound American Airlines jet did not continue with its original aircraft.
- Passengers later departed safely on another plane.
- In a statement, American Airlines praised its crew: “We thank our crew members for their quick action and our customers for their understanding.”
Runway Safety Concerns
FAA records show that 101 runway incursions caused by pilot deviations have already occurred in 2025.
One of the most serious happened in March at Chicago’s Midway International Airport, when:
- A Southwest Airlines jet aborted landing.
- The aircraft had to perform a go-around after a business jet entered the runway without clearance.
Airline Response
- AeroLogic has not commented publicly on the incident.
- CNN was the first outlet to report the story.
✈️ Bottom line: Quick action by controllers and pilots prevented a potentially catastrophic collision at LAX. The incident underscores ongoing safety challenges with runway incursions in U.S. aviation.
