US aviation authorities are investigating a near mid-air collision between an Air France jet and an American Airlines plane shortly after both took off from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), CBS LA reported.

The incident occurred around 12:20 am on Saturday, when Air France Flight 28 made an "unauthorized turn" after departing LAX, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The aircraft then "went into the path of another aircraft that departed from a parallel runway," the FAA said.

Audio recordings from LAX show air traffic controllers immediately instructed the Air France pilots to turn right and return to their original departure path. Controllers also told the other aircraft, American Airlines Flight 1660 bound for Dallas, to reduce altitude to avoid a possible collision.

Controllers then repeatedly asked the Air France crew what had happened and why the aircraft had veered from its assigned route. According to CBS LA, they apparently did not receive a clear answer for nearly 20 minutes.

The FAA has labelled the incident a "possible pilot deviation."

Air France has not yet responded to CBS LA's request for comment.