American Airlines Flight Aborts Takeoff at LAX After Cargo Jet Crosses Runway
An American Airlines jet preparing for departure at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) was forced to abort its takeoff late Sunday night after a cargo aircraft crossed directly into its path. The incident, which occurred on September 28, 2025, highlights ongoing concerns about runway safety at one of the world’s busiest airports.
What Happened on the Runway
American Airlines Flight 2453, a regularly scheduled service to Boston, was accelerating down Runway 25R when an AeroLogic cargo plane unexpectedly crossed ahead of it. AeroLogic Flight 619, operating under the callsign German Cargo 619, had just landed from Shanghai and was instructed to taxi between runways en route to its parking stand.
According to audio published by LiveATC.net, air traffic control had directed the cargo crew to cross Runway 25L. Instead, the Boeing 777 freighter turned right and entered Runway 25R, directly into the path of the departing American Airlines aircraft.
The exchange between pilots and controllers quickly turned urgent. “German Cargo 619, stop,” the controller warned. “We are on the runway,” the cargo pilot replied. Moments later, the controller instructed, “American 2453, cancel takeoff clearance.” The American Airlines pilot responded, “2453 is stopping.”
High-Speed Abort
Flight tracking data from FlightAware.com shows the American Airlines Airbus A321 had reached a speed of about 167 miles per hour when its crew slammed on the brakes, coming to a stop roughly 1.3 miles short of the cargo jet. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) later confirmed that the AeroLogic flight crossed Runway 25R “without authorization.”
Tracking data: https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL2453/history/20250929/0525Z/KLAX/KBOS
American Airlines praised its flight crew for their quick reaction. “We thank our crew members for their professionalism and our customers for their understanding,” the carrier said in a statement. The aircraft returned to the gate for inspection and eventually departed for Boston about two and a half hours behind schedule.
Questions Over Communication
The cause of the misstep remains unclear. Recordings suggest the controller may have referred to the AeroLogic flight as “419” instead of “619” at times and urged the crew to cross the runway “as fast as you can” because of inbound traffic. Such communication issues can add to confusion in high-pressure environments like LAX, where multiple aircraft operate simultaneously on parallel runways.
AeroLogic, a joint venture between Lufthansa Cargo and DHL, has not yet issued a public statement regarding the incident. The FAA confirmed it has opened an investigation into the runway incursion.
Runway Safety in Focus
While no injuries occurred, the near-collision underscores the importance of vigilant runway management. High-speed aborts are rare and carry risks of their own, but in this case the decisive actions of the American Airlines crew prevented what could have been a serious accident.
As U.S. aviation regulators continue to emphasize runway safety initiatives, the incident at LAX serves as a reminder of the challenges posed by complex taxiway layouts, heavy traffic, and occasional miscommunication between pilots and controllers.
AeroLogic did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.
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