Overview
- On Oct. 31, ITA Airways flight 621 to Rome departed LAX’s 24L as American Airlines flight 4 to New York left 25R, according to flight-tracking data.
- Air traffic control instructed the ITA Airbus A330-900 to turn right immediately and told the American Airbus A321 to stop its climb at 1,500 feet, per recorded radio traffic.
- Tracking and media reports indicate the jets came within roughly five seconds or about 3,000 feet before separation was reestablished.
- When controllers asked about the deviation, the ITA pilot replied “sorry,” and both flights continued, with American later landing with 90 passengers and seven crew.
- American thanked its crew and controllers for quick action, ITA said required reviews are underway, and the FAA provided no comment due to a government shutdown.