LOS ANGELES – The Federal Aviation Administration launched an investigation after a private jet carrying the Gonzaga University men's basketball team nearly crossed the runway as another flight took off Friday at Los Angeles International Airport.
Air traffic controllers ordered the plane operated by Key Lime Air to stop as a Delta plane took off. No one was injured.
“Air traffic controllers directed Key Lime Air Flight 563 not to cross 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. “As the Embraer E135 aircraft proceeded to cross the holding bars, air traffic controllers told the pilots to stop. The aircraft never crossed the runway edge line.”
An aircraft 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 stopped immediately and after a few moments it continued.
🚨 “STOP, STOP, STOP!” LAX ATC urgently called a Key Lime Air plane as a Delta plane took off from runway 24L. Was this a raid on the track? All captured live during Friday's Airline Videos Live broadcast. pic.twitter.com/5vwQfVzggQ
— AIRLINE VIDEOS (@airlinevideos) December 28, 2024
Gonzaga was in Los Angeles for the game against UCLA on Saturday. The Bulldogs lost to the Bruins 65-62 in the first college basketball game played at the Intuit Dome, the new home of the NBA's LA 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 on board the aircraft were unaware of the situation when it occurred and we are grateful that the incident ended safely for everyone.”
Key Lime Air did not immediately respond to The Associated Press' request for comment on Monday. Los Angeles World Airports referred a media investigation to the FAA and a Delta spokesperson said there were no problems for its planes.
“Delta Flight 471 operated normally and we are not aware of any communication from the FAA regarding this flight. We are cooperating with aviation officials in their investigation,” the airline said in an email.
No. 19 Gonzaga won its first West Coast Conference game on 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 for Gonzaga's athletic department referred reporters to the school's earlier statement.
“I can't answer any questions about that,” Battle said.
Third-year forward Braden Huff said he was eager to return to Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga hosts Portland on Thursday.
“I mean, we're happy with the win, 1-1 on the trip. We'd like to be 2-0, so to be able to come back to Spokane and play another game on Thursday, it feels good.” another chance,” said Huff, who scored 19 points.
Bulldogs coach Mark Few said the important thing was that the team found a way to win Monday night.
“I told them after the game that that was mission accomplished,” he said.
