Collision Damage Between Delta Air Lines Passenger Plane at LAX Airport
US Federal Aviation Administration Launches Investigation into Harrowing Incident
The Gonzaga University men's basketball team, a prestigious basketball program that includes South Korean national player Yeo Jun-seok, narrowly avoided a major accident, prompting an investigation by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). On the 30th of last month (local time), local media outlets such as CNN and NBC News reported that a charter plane carrying the Gonzaga men's basketball team nearly collided at Los Angeles (LA) International Airport. The incident occurred around 4:20 PM on the 27th.
On the 30th of last month (local time), local media including CNN and NBC News reported that a charter plane carrying the Gonzaga University men's basketball team nearly collided at Los Angeles (LA) International Airport. The incident occurred around 4:20 PM on the 27th. Photo by NBC News
According to the reports, the Embraer E135 aircraft operated by Key Lime Air, which was carrying the Gonzaga team that had arrived in LA for an away game against UCLA, was crossing the runway after landing to taxi. At the same time, a Delta Air Lines passenger plane was taking off. This was a situation where a major collision on the runway could have occurred. Fortunately, the air traffic controller who noticed the situation urgently instructed the charter plane carrying the Gonzaga basketball team to stop, preventing the collision. Kevin Ray, who runs an aviation-related YouTube channel, commented after watching the footage, "In all my years doing this, I've never heard a controller repeatedly say 'stop' like that."
The scene of the airplane narrowly avoiding a collision was fully captured on video and reported by local media in the LA area. The American weekly magazine People stated, "LAX is the busiest during the year-end and New Year period," adding, "From December 19 to January 2, approximately 3.2 million passengers use the airport, and this incident draws attention to airport safety issues alongside other recent aviation accidents in the past few months." NBC News
The footage capturing the plane narrowly avoiding the collision was broadcast by local media in the LA area. The American weekly magazine People explained, "LAX is the busiest during the year-end and New Year period," adding, "From December 19 to January 2, the airport handles about 3.2 million passengers, and this incident, along with other recent aviation accidents, highlights concerns about airport safety." Following controversy over the incident, the FAA stated that the charter plane carrying the Gonzaga team "did not cross the runway edge line," but confirmed that an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Meanwhile, Gonzaga lost 62-65 to UCLA in the game held a day after their arrival. Yeo Jun-seok, who is averaging 4.2 points over six games this season, did not play in that game. Gonzaga University's basketball team is a prestigious program that finished as the runner-up in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
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