FAA Probes Near-Collision at LAX Involving Key Lime Air's Embraer E135 Carrying Gonzaga Team and Delta Flight 471

Dec 31, 2024, 10:19 AM

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation following a near-collision incident at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) involving a private jet carrying the Gonzaga University men's basketball team and a departing Delta flight. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Friday when the private jet, operated by Key Lime Air and identified as an Embraer E135, was ordered to stop by air traffic controllers as it approached a runway where the Delta flight 471 was taking off. No injuries were reported. The FAA stated that air traffic controllers had directed the Key Lime Air Flight 563 to hold short of crossing the runway due to the Delta flight's takeoff. When the jet proceeded to cross the hold bars, controllers instructed the pilots to stop, and the jet did not cross the runway edge line. Gonzaga University was in Los Angeles for a game against UCLA, which they lost 65-62. The university expressed gratitude that the incident concluded safely and stated they were unaware of the situation as it occurred.