United Airlines plane turns wrong way, causing near catastrophe at SFO

On May 13, 2025, a significant close call occurred involving two commercial jets at San Francisco International Airport, located in the United States. The incident, which took place around 5:10 p.m., involved United Airlines Flight 1152 and SkyWest Flight 5272. The United Airlines flight, an Airbus A320, was departing for Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, while the SkyWest flight, a CRJ-200, was headed for Fresno-Yosemite International Airport. During the takeoff sequence, the United flight, cleared for a right turn, mistakenly made an unauthorized left turn, entering the path of the SkyWest flight, which was also taking off on a parallel runway. The close proximity of the two aircraft sparked alarms, prompting the SkyWest crew to perform an evasive maneuver to avoid a potential collision. Initial reports, including details from FlightRadar24, indicated that the two planes came dangerously close, with just 1,950 feet of lateral separation and 275 feet vertically. Investigators are focusing on various factors, including crew actions and communications at the time, which contribute to understanding the incident's unfolding. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently conducting an investigation into the event to determine the circumstances leading to the United flight's departure without authorization. According to Greg Feith, a former National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator, the dynamic environment of airport operations presents complexities that need thorough examination. Both airlines involved have acknowledged the severity of the situation; United Airlines is reviewing its procedures, and SkyWest confirmed that their flight continued safely to its destination despite the near miss. As investigations remain ongoing, industry experts reiterate the critical nature of adhering to communication protocols and operational standards to avoid such close calls in the future, highlighting the importance of safety systems that helped avert a catastrophic event this time. The collective efforts of the airline teams and air traffic control worked effectively to ensure no adverse outcome arose from this alarming incident.