Moment Delta airliner almost collided with private jet at LAX
Moment Delta airliner almost collided with private jet at LAX

On Friday, December 27, 2024, a critical incident was narrowly avoided at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) involving a chartered Embraer E135 jet carrying the Gonzaga University men's basketball team and a Delta Air Lines flight. The near-collision occurred around 4:30 p.m. local time and was captured on a runway livestream, where air traffic controllers can be heard urgently instructing the Embraer jet to "Stop, stop, stop."

The Embraer E135 had just arrived from Spokane, Washington, and was preparing to cross an active runway when air traffic controllers noticed the Delta aircraft accelerating down the same runway for takeoff. Controllers promptly commanded the Embraer to halt, preventing a potential disaster. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated an investigation into the incident, which was recorded by aviation enthusiast Kevin Ray and shared on his YouTube channel.

In the video, both the air traffic controller and Ray express shock at the close call. Ray remarks, "Wow! In the years I've been doing this, I've never heard an ATC controller tell a plane to 'Stop, stop, stop.'" An FAA spokesperson confirmed that the Embraer jet "never crossed the runway edge line" and stated, "The FAA will investigate."

The Gonzaga University men's basketball team was en route to a game against UCLA scheduled for the following day. A university spokesperson expressed gratitude that the incident concluded safely and anticipated receiving more information about the event. Gonzaga University, located in Spokane, Washington, is a private Jesuit institution renowned for its strong basketball program.

The Delta Flight 471 was bound for Atlanta and proceeded without apparent impact from the near-miss, operating as scheduled. Flight records indicate that the Key Lime Air flight, operating the Embraer E135, departed Spokane International Airport at 2:10 p.m. and arrived at LAX at 4:20 p.m., nine minutes ahead of schedule. The Delta flight departed LAX at 4:31 p.m., 16 minutes behind its scheduled departure time.

This incident occurred during a particularly busy holiday travel period, with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expecting to screen approximately 40 million passengers over the Christmas season. It also follows recent aviation accidents in South Korea and Azerbaijan, underscoring concerns about air travel safety during peak travel times.

In South Korea, a Jeju Air plane skidded off the runway at Muan airport, collided with a concrete barrier, and caught fire after its landing gear failed to deploy, resulting in the tragic loss of nearly all 181 passengers on board. In Azerbaijan, 38 people perished when Flight J2-8432 crashed in Kazakhstan on Christmas Day, with officials suggesting external interference as a possible cause.

The FAA's investigation into the LAX near-miss will seek to determine the factors that led to the incident and assess measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future, ensuring the continued safety of air travel amid increased holiday traffic.

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