Los Angeles, San Francisco Lead In ‘Runway Safety-Related Problem Areas’ A federal report of airport “hotspots” where complex and/or busy characteristics could lead to near-misses or accidents names 34 California airports, including the state’s three busiest: Los Angeles International (LAX), San Francisco International (SFO), and San Diego International Airport (SAN). The report, which covers November 2025 to January 2026, defines a hotspot as “a runway safety-related problem area on an airport that presents increased risk during surface operations. Typically it is a complex or confusing taxiway/taxiway or taxiway/runway intersection.” San Francisco’s characteristics of concern in the report include complex and confusing taxiways and runways that sometimes lead to pilots taxiing the wrong way.
