Basketball team nearly perishes in LAX runway near-collision
- The Gonzaga men's basketball team's charter flight was cleared by air traffic controllers to hold short of a runway.
- The Delta flight took off, while the Gonzaga jet was commanded to stop to avoid a collision.
- The incident prompted the FAA to investigate, highlighting concerns over aviation safety.
On Friday, December 27, 2024, a serious aviation incident occurred involving a private jet carrying the Gonzaga University men's basketball team at Los Angeles International Airport in the United States. The plane, operated by Key Lime Air, was instructed by air traffic controllers to hold short of a runway as a Delta Airlines passenger flight, bound for Atlanta, was taking off. As the chartered Embraer E135 jet began to cross the hold bars, air traffic controllers urgently commanded the pilots to 'Stop, stop, stop!' to prevent a potential collision. The jet halted immediately, narrowly avoiding disaster as the Delta flight accelerated down the runway. The dramatic moment was captured on a plane-spotting livestream, with the sounds of the air traffic controller's urgent commands being heard. Fortunately, the charter plane never crossed the runway edge line and there were no injuries reported as a result of the incident. Passengers aboard the Gonzaga flight were reportedly unaware of the severity of the situation as it unfolded. The incident has drawn significant attention, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to launch a thorough investigation to fully understand the circumstances leading to the close call. Delta Airlines, while initially unaware of the investigation specifics, stated that Delta Flight 471 operated normally. In response to queries, Delta confirmed it had no issues or communications from the FAA regarding its flight operations, and it expressed cooperation with the FAA's investigation. Gonzaga University's men's basketball team had flown into Los Angeles from Spokane, Washington, in preparation for their scheduled game against UCLA the following day. This incident comes amidst concerns about aviation safety, especially in light of recent tragedies in aviation history. The university has stated that it is monitoring the investigation's progress and expressed gratitude that the incident concluded without harm to its team members. The FAA's findings will be crucial in ensuring the safety of future flights in and out of LAX, especially during busy travel periods.