An investigation is currently underway following a potentially dangerous incident at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Friday afternoon. A private jet carrying the Gonzaga men’s basketball team was ordered to stop taxiing toward an active runway just as a Delta Airlines flight was preparing for takeoff.
The incident was captured on video and quickly circulated by the channel Airline Videos Live. The footage shows the Embraer E135 jet, operated by Colorado-based Key Lime Air, slowly moving toward the runway as the Delta aircraft began its takeoff. Air traffic controllers can be heard urgently instructing the pilots of the jet to “stop, stop, stop” as the planes neared a critical point of intersection.
According to reports, the jet had just completed its flight from Spokane, Washington, and was taxiing to its gate when the close call occurred. Fortunately, the jet did not cross the active runway, and both aircrafts continued their operations without incident.
In a statement released by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the agency clarified that the Key Lime Air flight never crossed the edge line of the runway. The FAA confirmed that air traffic controllers had issued the instruction to halt the jet when it moved too close to the runway where the Delta flight was taking off.
“The aircraft was directed to hold short of the runway because a second plane was in the process of taking off,” the FAA said. “When the jet proceeded to cross the hold bars, controllers issued a stop command, and the jet did not cross the runway’s edge line.”
A spokesperson for Gonzaga University, which is located in Spokane, Washington, confirmed that the team was unaware of the near-miss while it was unfolding. “We understand that the incident at LAX is under investigation and we will review this information as it becomes available,” the university said in an official statement. “Our team members aboard the aircraft were unaware of the situation as it occurred and we are grateful that the incident ended safely for all involved.”
The flight, which had the Gonzaga basketball team onboard, continued without further incident. Despite the unsettling event, the Bulldogs went on to face UCLA the following day, though they ultimately lost 65-62, as reported by ESPN.
At this stage, authorities are looking into the factors that led to the incident. However, they have reassured the public that no one was harmed, and the situation was quickly resolved.
LAX remains one of the busiest airports in the world, and safety protocols are continually updated to prevent such incidents. While this particular close call was unsettling, it serves as a reminder of the critical importance of coordination between pilots and air traffic controllers to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew members.
