Last Friday afternoon (December 27), a private plane was ordered to stop taxiing on a runway at Los Angeles International Airport because the aircraft was heading towards a Delta Air Lines flight that was about to take off. Authorities are currently investigating the near miss incident that almost resulted in a disaster.
According to the report by the Associated Press on December 31, the incident took place at Los Angeles International Airport, where a private plane carrying the Gonzaga University Bulldogs men’s basketball team nearly crossed the runway as the Delta flight was taking off. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the matter.
The plane carrying the basketball team was operated by Key Lime Air. At the time of the incident, air traffic controllers instructed the plane to stop. Video footage shared by Airline Videos Live shows the Delta flight preparing for takeoff, with the air traffic controllers urgently shouting at the plane carrying the basketball team to stop.
The Key Lime Air flight immediately complied with the instructions to stop and resumed flying a few minutes later. Thankfully, no one was injured in this incident.
In a statement, the Federal Aviation Administration explained that air traffic controllers instructed Key Lime Air Flight 563 to halt before crossing a runway at Los Angeles International Airport because another aircraft was taking off from that runway.
“When the Embraer E135 jet aircraft crossed the hold bars, the air traffic controllers told the pilot to stop,” the FAA continued, ensuring that the aircraft did not cross the edge of the runway.
The Gonzaga University Bulldogs team participated in a match against the UCLA Bruins at the new home arena of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, the Intuit Dome, in Los Angeles last Saturday. The Bulldogs team lost to the Bruins with a score of 62-65 in the first college basketball game held at the venue.
“We are aware that the incident at Los Angeles International Airport is under investigation, and we will conduct a review after receiving relevant information,” Gonzaga University stated in an email on Monday afternoon, reassuring that their team members on the plane were not aware of the situation and they were relieved that the event concluded safely.
Key Lime Air did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Associated Press on Monday. Los Angeles International Airport directed media inquiries to the FAA, while a Delta Air Lines spokesperson confirmed that their aircraft operated without any issues.
“Delta Flight 471 is operating normally, and we are not aware of any information released by the FAA regarding this flight. We are cooperating with aviation officials’ investigation,” the airline said in an email.
On Monday evening, in the West Coast Conference opener, the 19th-ranked Gonzaga University men’s basketball team defeated the Pepperdine University team with a score of 89-82 in Malibu.
Forward Braden Huff expressed his anticipation of returning to Spokane, Washington. The Gonzaga Bulldogs will host the Portland team at home on Thursday.
Coach Mark Few of the Bulldogs team emphasized the importance of finding a way to win on Monday night, stating, “I told them after the game, mission accomplished.”