Overview

• On May 13 at San Francisco International Airport, United Flight 1152 departed Runway 1R and turned left instead of the cleared right heading, crossing into the departure path of SkyWest Flight 5273 from Runway 1L.
• The two jets passed within 0.4 nautical miles horizontally and 280 feet vertically before the SkyWest crew executed an evasive maneuver following a traffic-alert warning.
• Tower recordings reveal the controller twice instructed “fly runway heading” when intending “fly present heading,” contributing to pilot confusion during departure clearances.
• In a debriefing, United’s captain said the first officer followed the flight-management system’s guidance, which incorrectly displayed a left-turn instruction.
• The FAA has launched a formal investigation into air traffic control procedures and pilot adherence to safety protocols at San Francisco International Airport.