Jet with Gonzaga men’s basketball team avoids collision at LAX

Jet with Gonzaga men’s basketball team avoids collision at LAX

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration has opened an investigation after a private jet carrying the Gonzaga University men’s basketball team nearly overshot a runway as another flight took off from Los Angeles International Airport on Friday.

The plane, operated by Key Lime Air, was ordered by air traffic controllers to stop when a Delta plane took off. Nobody was injured.

“Air traffic controllers instructed Key Lime Air Flight 563 not to cross the runway at Los Angeles International Airport as a second aircraft was taking off from the runway,” the FAA said in a statement. “As the Embraer E135 jet crossed the handrails, air traffic controllers asked the pilots to stop. The jet never crossed the runway edge line.”

An aircraft observation livestream shows the incident and recorded audio of an air traffic controller telling the Key Lime Air flight, “Stop, stop, stop.” The flight was stopped immediately and resumed after a few moments.

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 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 Associated Press requests for comment Monday. Los Angeles World Airports referred a media inquiry to the FAA, and a Delta spokesman said there were no problems with its planes.

“Delta Flight 471 proceeded as normal and we are not aware of any communication from the FAA regarding this flight. We are cooperating with aviation authorities in their investigation,” the airline said in an email.

No. 19 Gonzaga won its West Coast Conference opener on Monday night, defeating Pepperdine 89-82 in Malibu.

Khalif Battle, a sixth-year guard who scored a team-high 21 points, declined to answer when asked what happened during Friday’s flight. A Gonzaga athletic department media representative referred reporters to the school’s previous statement.

“I can’t answer any questions about that,” Battle said.

Braden Huff, a third-year forward, said he is excited to return to Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga hosts Portland on Thursday.

“I mean, we’re happy with the win, 1-1 on the road trip. I’d like to be 2-0, so it feels good to just be able to go back to Spokane and play another game on Thursday. “Get another chance,” said Huff, who had 19 points.

Bulldogs coach Mark Few said the most important thing was that the team found a way to win Monday night.

“I told them after the game that it was mission accomplished,” he said.

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