SAN FRANCISCO- A United Airlines (UA) Airbus A320, operating as Flight UA1152, narrowly avoided a mid-air collision with a SkyWest CRJ-200 shortly after taking off from San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
The incident, which happened around 5:10 p.m., has led to a federal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the near-disaster.
Flight UA1152 departed from Runway 1R, heading to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and was instructed to make a right turn after the TRUKN Standard Instrument Departure (SID).
At the same time, SkyWest (OO) Flight 5273 took off from the parallel Runway 1L, bound for Fresno-Yosemite International Airport (FAT), with clearance to make a left turn via the SSTIK SID. These procedures are standard for simultaneous departures on parallel runways at SFO.
However, shortly after takeoff, UA1152 veered left instead of right, directly into the path of the ascending SkyWest (OO) flight.
The two aircraft came within approximately 1.1 miles horizontally and 280 feet vertically of each other before the SkyWest crew, alerted by their Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), took evasive action to avoid a collision.
Miscommunication
As per a debriefing, the first officer of UA1152, who was at the controls and making his first departure from SFO, followed incorrect instructions from the Flight Management System (FMS), initiating a left turn at approximately 500 feet altitude.
The captain, realizing the error, attempted to correct the course by inputting a new heading, but by then, the aircraft had already encroached into the path of the SkyWest flight.
Furthermore, the local air traffic controller instructed UA1152 to “fly runway heading,” which was meant to convey “fly present heading.” This miscommunication contributed to the confusion in the cockpit at a critical time during the flight.
FAA Launches Investigation
The FAA has initiated an investigation into the incident. Both United Airlines (UA) and SkyWest Airlines (OO) are fully cooperating with the inquiry.
Additionally, United Airlines (UA) has started an internal review to assess the factors that contributed to the near-miss.
A spokesperson for United remarked, “We are conducting a thorough internal review of this incident and are cooperating with the FAA to ensure the highest levels of safety.”
Aviation experts have raised concerns over the incident, emphasizing the critical importance of clear communication and strict adherence to procedures during takeoff and departure phases. The combination of pilot inexperience, reliance on automated systems, and controller miscommunication highlights the need for rigorous training and compliance with procedures.
“This event underscores the potential consequences when standard protocols are not adhered to strictly,” noted an aviation safety analyst.
Flights Continued to Their Destinations
Despite the narrow escape, both flights continued to their destinations without further incident. UA1152 proceeded to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), and SkyWest 5273 completed its journey to Fresno (FAT).
The FAA’s investigation is ongoing, and additional details will be provided as they become available.
Stay connected with us, and follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join our Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. You can also follow us on Google News.
Based on an article from aviationa2z.com: https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/06/01/united-a320-nearly-collides-with-skywest-plane-at-sfo/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=united-a320-nearly-collides-with-skywest-plane-at-sfo
