FAA Flags SFO, Oakland Airports as 'Hot Spots' for Runway Close Calls

Nine Bay Area airports among 34 in California cited by regulators for confusing layouts that increase risk of incidents

Mar. 17, 2026 at 10:20pm by Ben Kaplan

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The Federal Aviation Administration has identified San Francisco International Airport and Oakland International Airport as 'hot spots' - areas on the ground where confusing layouts or busy runway crossings can increase the risk of close calls between aircraft. The FAA has flagged a total of 34 California airports, including nine in the Bay Area, as having these higher-risk locations.

Why it matters

Runway incursions and close calls at major airports can pose serious safety risks, potentially leading to collisions or other dangerous incidents. The FAA's 'hot spot' designations are intended to raise awareness among pilots so they can be extra vigilant in these problem areas and reduce the chances of accidents.

The details

At SFO, the FAA highlighted four locations with issues, including pilots taxiing onto the wrong path and missing turns that could lead to crossing active runways. Oakland had three areas flagged, such as pilots confusing similarly labeled taxiways and planes leaving the gate area missing turns toward runways. The FAA did not provide specifics on when these incidents occurred, but said the designations are meant to improve safety awareness, not classify the airports as unsafe.

  • The FAA charts were released on March 17, 2026.

The players

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

One of the major airports in the San Francisco Bay Area, serving millions of passengers annually.

Oakland International Airport

A commercial airport serving the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The national aviation authority of the United States, responsible for regulating and overseeing all aspects of civil aviation.

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What’s next

The FAA will continue monitoring the 'hot spot' areas at SFO, Oakland, and other California airports to assess if any additional safety measures or infrastructure changes are needed to mitigate the risks of runway incursions and close calls.

The takeaway

This FAA designation serves as an important safety alert for pilots operating at SFO, Oakland, and other California airports with 'hot spots.' By being aware of these higher-risk areas, pilots can take extra precautions to avoid mistakes and ensure the safe movement of aircraft on the ground, ultimately protecting passengers and the public.