A catastrophic near-collision between two passenger jets at Houston’s busiest airport exposes alarming safety failures that could have resulted in hundreds of deaths during the peak holiday travel season.
Story Highlights
- Volaris flight made unauthorized turn directly into path of United Express aircraft during takeoff
- Air traffic control gave clear left turn instruction that was completely ignored by foreign airline crew
- Incident occurred at nation’s fourth-busiest airport during Christmas travel rush
- Transportation Secretary admits airline capacity cuts due to deteriorating safety trends
Foreign Airline Defies Air Traffic Control Instructions
Volaris Flight 4321, operated by Mexico-based Volaris Airlines, blatantly ignored direct air traffic control instructions on December 18, 2025, turning right instead of left as commanded after departing Houston Intercontinental Airport.
The unauthorized maneuver put the El Salvador-bound aircraft on a collision course with CommuteAir Flight 814, a United Express regional jet carrying passengers to Jackson, Mississippi. This represents a fundamental breakdown in aviation safety protocols that could have resulted in mass casualties.
“As near collisions go, this was very close.” I’m unpacking a recent near miss between two passenger airplanes at the big airport. Hear from an aviation expert and see animation of the incident later on @KHOU. Background: https://t.co/rckvDuh5Zv #khou11 pic.twitter.com/0aJfdUUNXt
— Jason Miles (@JMilesKHOU) December 29, 2025
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that air traffic controllers gave explicit left turn instructions to the Volaris crew, making this incident a clear case of pilot error or communication failure.
CommuteAir, which operates United Express flights and is partially owned by United Airlines, stated their crew followed all applicable air traffic control instructions, placing full responsibility on the foreign carrier’s flight operations.
Critical Safety Breakdown at Major Transportation Hub
Houston Intercontinental Airport handles over 500 daily arriving flights and processes more than 20 million passenger arrivals annually, making it one of America’s most critical transportation hubs.
The near-miss occurred at 3:05 p.m. during peak afternoon departure times when airports experience their heaviest traffic loads. This timing amplifies concerns about aviation safety during high-volume operations when any mistake can have catastrophic consequences for American travelers.
The incident highlights growing concerns about foreign airline operations at U.S. airports, where different training standards and communication protocols may contribute to safety risks.
While domestic carriers like United Express demonstrated proper adherence to air traffic control instructions, the foreign operator’s failure to follow basic safety protocols raises questions about oversight of international airlines operating in American airspace.
Transportation Secretary Acknowledges Deteriorating Safety Trends
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy admitted that federal aviation authorities have been forced to reduce airline capacity by 10 percent due to deteriorating safety trend lines in the aviation industry.
His comments to FOX Business’ Maria Bartiromo reveal that government officials are actively monitoring declining safety performance across the airline sector. This capacity reduction during the critical Christmas travel period demonstrates the severity of current aviation safety challenges.
Despite mounting evidence of increased close calls and safety incidents, Duffy continues to maintain that flying remains safe for American travelers. However, his acknowledgment that “trend lines going in the wrong direction” necessitated operational restrictions contradicts reassurances about aviation safety.
The administration’s decision to cut capacity during peak travel season suggests deeper systemic problems requiring immediate attention to protect American families during holiday travel.
