Washington: A private jet carrying the US's Gonzaga University men’s basketball team nearly crossed a runway as another flight was taking off at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday. The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation. The plane operated by Key Lime Air was ordered by air traffic controllers to stop as a Delta aircraft took off. No one was injured.
"Air traffic controllers directed Key Lime Air Flight 563 to hold short of crossing a runway at Los Angeles International Airport because a second aircraft was taking off from the runway at the time," the FAA said in a statement. "When the Embraer E135 jet proceeded to cross the hold bars, air traffic controllers told the pilots to stop. The jet never crossed the runway edge line."
A plane-spotting livestream shows the incident and captured audio of an air traffic controller telling the Key Lime Air flight to “stop, stop, stop.” The flight immediately stopped and then proceeded after a few moments.
LAX is under investigation
Gonzaga was in Los Angeles for its game against UCLA on Saturday. The Bulldogs lost to the Bruins 65-62 in the first college basketball game played at Intuit Dome, the new home of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers. “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 email Monday afternoon. “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.”
Los Angeles World Airports referred a media inquiry to the FAA, and a Delta spokesperson said there were no problems with its aircraft. “Delta flight 471 operated as normal, and we are not aware of any communication from the FAA regarding this flight. We are cooperating with aviation officials on their investigation,” the airline said in an email.
No. 19 Gonzaga won its West Coast Conference opener Monday night, beating Pepperdine 89-82 in Malibu. Khalif Battle, a sixth-year guard who scored a team-high 21 points, declined to answer when asked about what happened during Friday’s flight. A media relations official with the Gonzaga athletic department referred reporters to the previous statement from the school.
“I can’t answer any questions about that,” Battle said.
Braden Huff, a third-year forward, said he was looking forward to getting back to Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga hosts Portland on Thursday. “I mean, we’re happy with the win, 1-1 on the road trip. Would like to be 2-0, so just to be able to get back to Spokane, get another game in on Thursday, it feels good to get another opportunity,” said Huff, who had 19 points.
Bulldogs coach Mark Few said the important thing was the team found a way to win Monday night. “I told ’em after the game, that was mission accomplished,” he said.
Notably, the incident happened nearly 48 hours before a passenger plane crashed in South Korea, killing 179 people on board.
(With inputs from agency)
