An American Airlines flight departing from Honolulu had to perform an “expedited climb” early Wednesday morning to avoid mountainous terrain after an air traffic control directive, according to reports.
Flight AA298, an Airbus A321neo en route to Los Angeles International Airport, departed Honolulu International Airport at 12:49 a.m. local time. Shortly after takeoff from Runway 8L—an eastbound runway used less frequently than Runway 8R—air traffic controllers instructed the crew to accelerate their climb due to a missed turn and the proximity of nearby mountains.
Rapid Ascent Over Mountainous Terrain
Data from the flight shows that two minutes after takeoff, the plane was flying at approximately 2,900 feet and at a speed of 238 knots. The aircraft’s climb trajectory took it just south of K?n?huanui, a peak with an elevation of 3,150 feet. By 12:52 a.m., the plane had climbed to 5,300 feet and made a sharp right turn to avoid Pu?u O?Kona, another peak at 2,350 feet.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the incident, stating, “An air traffic controller instructed American Airlines Flight 298 to perform an expedited climb after the crew did not make the assigned turn while departing from Honolulu International Airport.” The FAA added that the controller’s actions ensured the aircraft maintained safe clearance over the terrain.
Flight Continues Without Incident
Following the rapid climb, the flight continued its journey without further complications, landing safely at Los Angeles International Airport at 7:36 a.m. Pacific Time. Real-time flight tracking data from Flightradar24 corroborated the sequence of events.
American Airlines responded to the incident, emphasizing their commitment to safety. “During the climb out of Honolulu, the crew of American Airlines flight 298 requested and received right-turn clearance and complied with controller instructions. There were no terrain clearance issues or alerts,” the airline said in a statement.
FAA Investigation Underway
The FAA is investigating the matter to determine why the assigned turn was missed during takeoff. Newsweek reached out to American Airlines for additional comments but has not yet received a response.
Aviation Safety in Context
Near-misses involving commercial airliners are rare, and air travel remains one of the safest modes of transportation. The U.S. has not experienced a fatal crash involving a major airline since 2009, when a Continental flight tragically crashed near Buffalo, New York.
This incident follows another close call involving American Airlines in 2023, when two planes nearly collided midair over New York as they descended toward John F. Kennedy International Airport. Both situations highlight the critical role of air traffic controllers and pilot responsiveness in maintaining aviation safety.
