Near-Collision at Los Angeles International Airport: Key Details
A video shows a near-miss of two planes at the Los Angeles International Airport LAX last week. The accident in question involved Key Lime Air flight that was carrying Gonzaga University men’s basketball team and another Delta Air Lines flight, which was taking off for Atlanta.
How the Incident Unfolded
The close call occurred around 4:30 p.m. local time on Friday. An air traffic controller, on the audio recording, as the Key Lime Air flight was approaching the runway, frantically told the pilot, “Stop, stop, stop.” The FAA later established that the Embraer E135 jet, Key Lime Air Flight 563, was informed to wait for clearance because Delta Flight 471, an A321 aircraft, was preparing for take off. The other jet, which was considerably smaller, had only just failed to cross the critical runway edge line before the disaster was averted.
FAA and Airline Responses
The FAA has also opened an investigation to determine why the Key Lime Air flight was still making its way toward the runway in defiance of instructions. In a statement, the agency said that air traffic controllers responded quickly to prevent possible collisions.
Delta Air Lines avowed that its flight was indeed on schedule and no complaints of interruption were made. ‘We are working with aviation regulators on the investigation,’ Delta also stated.
Recent Issues in Aviation Safety
This event has not caused any loss of life, but it raises worrying questions about the safety of flying. Recent accidents and incidents around the world, including fatal ones in South Korea and Kazakhstan, have increased concerns over the aviations’ procedures. There have been 318 deaths around the world in 2024, making it the most dangerous year for aviation since 2018.
Conclusion
The fast response of the LAX air traffic controllers probably saved a lot of people’s lives. While the FAA tries to determine the circumstances of the event, this is a clear indication of the difficulties of achieving safety in more and more congested skies.
