Near-Miss at US Airport: Air Traffic Controllers’ Urgent ‘Stop, Stop, Stop’ Prevents Runway Collision

A Delta Airlines flight and a Gonzaga University charter plane narrowly avoided disaster at Los Angeles International Airport

December 31, 2024: In a heart-stopping moment at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), a potential collision between two aircraft was narrowly avoided after air traffic controllers issued an urgent command: “Stop, stop, stop!” The dramatic incident, which unfolded on Friday afternoon, involved a Delta Airlines flight bound for Atlanta and a charter plane carrying Gonzaga University’s basketball team.

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The incident occurred around 4:30 PM local time when Key Lime Air Flight 563, an Embraer ERJ-135 carrying the Gonzaga team, began rolling across the runway after landing from Washington. Video footage of the tense moment captured the urgency in the air traffic controller’s voice as they commanded the pilot to stop immediately.

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Delta Flight 471, an Airbus A321, was accelerating for takeoff at the same time. The charter plane managed to halt just in time, narrowly avoiding a catastrophic runway incursion. Aviation enthusiasts and eyewitnesses described the scene as one of the most intense near-misses they had ever witnessed.

“In all my years of watching planes, I’ve never heard an air traffic controller shout ‘Stop, stop, stop’ with such intensity,” said an aviation spotter who captured the moment.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the incident. According to an FAA spokesperson, “Air traffic controllers instructed Key Lime Air Flight 563 to hold short of the runway. The jet never crossed the runway edge line, but the quick command was crucial in preventing an accident.”

Gonzaga University later confirmed the plane was a chartered Embraer ERJ-135. Despite the scare, the Delta Airlines flight proceeded on schedule, and no delays were reported.

This near-miss comes just days after two aviation tragedies: the Jeju Air crash in South Korea, which claimed 179 lives, and a plane crash in Kazakhstan, resulting in 38 fatalities.

As investigations continue, aviation experts are emphasising the critical role of air traffic controllers in ensuring runway safety and preventing such close calls from turning into tragedies.

Tags: Aviation Incident, LAX Near Miss, FAA Investigation, Air Traffic Control, Delta Airlines, Gonzaga University, Runway Safety, Aviation News