The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the near-collision between a Delta passenger jet and a private jet carrying the Gonzaga University men’s basketball team.
Poignant footage of the Dec. 27 incident shows air traffic controllers telling the private plane, Key Lime Air Flight 563, to stop as it continued to cross the runway where Delta Flight 471 had taken off.
The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. local time at Los Angeles International Airport, the FAA confirmed.
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A jet carrying the Gonzaga men’s basketball team narrowly avoids a collision with a Delta flight at the Los Angeles airport.
Live aerial videos
“Air traffic controllers directed Key Lime Air Flight 563 not to cross the runway at Los Angeles International Airport because another aircraft was taking off from the runway at the time,” the FAA said in a statement to PEOPLE. “When the Embraer E135 jet continued to cross the hold bars, air traffic controllers told the pilots to stop. The jet never crossed the runway edge.”
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A Delta plane takes off safely after a near miss with a Key Lime Air jet.
Live aerial videos
In the video, a Delta plane takes off as an air traffic controller warns a jet taxiing in the background: “Key Lime, stop, stop, stop!”
The jet carrying members of the varsity team from Spokane, Wash., then comes to a halt as the passenger plane takes off safely from the runway.
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Delta aircraft.
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“Delta Flight 471 was operating 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 a statement shared with PEOPLE.
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The Gonzaga Bulldogs landed in Los Angeles on December 27th to play the UCLA Bruins on Saturday, December 28th. The game was played at the Intuit Dome, where Gonzaga lost to UCLA, according to Los Angeles Times.
Of the near-collision, Gonzaga University told PEOPLE in a statement: “We understand that the incident at LAX is under investigation and will review this information as it becomes available. Our team members on the plane were unaware of the situation when it happened and we are grateful that the incident ended safely for everyone.”
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Source: HIS Education