LOS ANGELES- At Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), two aircraft nearly collided during a normal departure sequence, posing a possible disaster.
The FAA initiated an immediate inquiry into the incident involving Delta Air Lines (DL) Flight DL471 and a Key Lime Air charter aircraft carrying the Gonzaga men’s basketball team.
Delta A321 Avoids Collision at LAX
The near-miss occurred when the Delta aircraft began its takeoff procedure as the Key Lime Air charter plane crossed the active runway.
An observant air traffic controller intervened with an urgent call to halt, averting what aviation experts believe might have been a devastating collision at takeoff speeds ranging from 150 to 180 mph.
Kevin Ray, an aviation enthusiast, documented the occurrence and captured the thrilling moment on camera. His camera captures the anxious seconds when the controller’s urgent shouts resonated across the radio waves, instructing the charter aircraft to halt its journey across the runway. The Delta flight departed for Atlanta without more problems.
The severity of the Los Angeles International Airport near-collision is revealed by seasoned jet spotter Kevin Ray’s view.
Ray noted the unusual nature of hearing an air traffic controller issue such urgent stop directions, emphasizing the incident’s significance in his broad aviation observation expertise.
Delta Airlines maintains a cautious response to the issue. The airline’s representative told Fox News Digital that Flight 471 followed routine operating procedures.
While confirming cooperation with aviation authorities, Delta claims there is no formal notification of an FAA investigation into the flight.
The LAX event gained extra traction in light of the recent Jeju Air catastrophe in South Korea. Flight 2216 crashed and killed 179 people while arriving at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province.
Similar Incident
A similar event occurred last year at San Diego International Airport, when a Southwest Airlines (WN) Boeing 737 and a Cessna Citation business jet came close to colliding. The incident occurred Friday at around 12 p.m. PDT, adding to the growing list of aviation safety issues in the United States.
The incident occurred when an air traffic controller authorized the Cessna Citation to land while Southwest Airlines Flight 2493 was on the same runway awaiting departure clearance.
The airport’s automatic surface surveillance system identified the possible conflict, prompting rapid controller action and instructing the Cessna to perform a go-around maneuver.
According to initial indications from sources close to the investigation, the Cessna flew around 100 feet above the Southwest aircraft during the averted crash. The FAA dispatches an investigating team to undertake a thorough examination of the incident.
Southwest Airlines affirms full cooperation with the FAA inquiry, confirming that Flight 2493 arrived in San Jose safely. The National Transportation Safety Board’s involvement grows as this incident becomes the sixth runway incursion probe in 2024, indicating a disturbing trend in aviation safety.