Air France Jet Aborts Takeoff at LAX Runway Incursion

An Air France Boeing 777-300ER was forced to abort takeoff at Los Angeles International Airport after another aircraft entered the runway without authorization, prompting an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The incident occurred around 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday Apr 8 and involved Air France Flight 25, which was preparing to depart for Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. According to the FAA, air traffic controllers canceled the aircraft’s takeoff clearance after a separate jet crossed onto the active runway without permission.

Audio recordings from air traffic control reveal that the Air France crew was already accelerating for departure when runway warning lights alerted the pilots to a potential incursion. The crew immediately rejected the takeoff while under power, bringing the aircraft to a safe stop.

Controllers later confirmed that a Gulfstream G650ER had crossed the hold-short line and entered the runway environment, placing it directly in the path of the departing Boeing 777. The business jet had just arrived from San Francisco International Airport and had been instructed to hold short of Runway 24L. The pilot acknowledged the instruction but proceeded onto the runway, triggering the incident.

Despite the close call, the Air France aircraft was able to slow safely, return to taxi, and later depart with only a minor delay. The Boeing 777-300ER, which can carry up to 369 passengers, continued its transatlantic journey without further issues. No injuries were reported.

The event has been classified as a runway incursion, a serious safety concern in aviation that involves the incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle, or person on a runway. The FAA has launched an investigation to determine the sequence of events and whether any procedural failures occurred.

The incident was followed by another close call at LAX just hours later. A Frontier Airlines Airbus A321 was forced to brake abruptly to avoid two service vehicles that had entered the runway area. That situation also ended without injuries.

Both incidents highlight ongoing concerns around runway safety at major international airports. The FAA continues to review the events, while requests for comment from Air France and the operator of the Gulfstream jet have not yet received a response.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, nbclosangeles.com