two planes narrowly avoid collision on a runway at Los Angeles airport

The first aircraft was about to cross the runway while a Delta Air Lines flight was taking off. This type of incident is common.

Pilot error, poor air traffic control estimate? Still, a serious accident was narrowly avoided on a runway at Los Angeles International Airport in the United States.

As reported by the AP agency, a private Key Lime Air jet carrying the Gonzaga University men's basketball team almost crossed a runway while another Delta Airlines flight was taking off.

Fortunately, air traffic control realized the danger and ordered the pilot of the jet to stop abruptly. In an audio recording, we can hear an air traffic controller shouting “stop, stop, stop” to the pilot of the jet who immediately stopped the aircraft leaving “priority” to the one taking off.

“Air traffic controllers ordered Key Lime Air Flight 563 not to cross a runway at Los Angeles International Airport because a second plane was taking off from the runway at that time,” says the FAA (the air regulator). 'air) which opened an investigation.

“When the Embraer E135 plane crossed the holding bars, air traffic controllers asked the pilots to stop. The plane never crossed the runway edge line,” the agency continues.

“Our team members on board the aircraft were not aware of the situation at the time it occurred and we are grateful that the incident ended safely for all,” responded one spokesperson for Gonzaga University.

“Delta Flight 471 operated normally, and we are not aware of any communications from the FAA regarding this flight. We are cooperating with aviation officials as part of their investigation,” the airline said. .

“We are working within our own safety management system and with the FAA to determine the facts of the incident and will respond accordingly,” commented the Key Lime Air vice president.

“A scenario that happens often”

These “traffic” incidents on the runways of large airports where traffic is heavy are not rare.

Last April, two planes came dangerously close while taxiing on two stands to take off at Reagan National Airport in Washington (United States).

Last September, an Air Algérie Boeing 737 was preparing to land at night on runway 31R at Marseille-Provence airport.

The captain prepares his maneuver before an order from the control tower instructs him to go around. In question, the presence on the runway of another plane (a Boeing 757 cargo) from the Spanish company Gestair, this time taking off.

According to the report you BEAthe Bureau of Investigations and Analysis, the tragedy was narrowly avoided, the two planes could in fact have collided.

Also in September, a Boeing 737 MAX 9 braked in emergency on the takeoff runway in Nashville. The plane, which was carrying 176 passengers, stopped abruptly to avoid a collision with another Southwest Airlines plane.

“This is a scenario that often occurs because controllers authorize planes to take off, while authorizing those on approach to land,” he explained to us. Gérard Feldzerformer captain and aeronautics expert.

“This happens within a few seconds. This is the condition for being able to streamline and increase traffic at an airport. However, from time to time, this does not happen,” he continues.