Near-Miss at LAX: Charter Plane Stopped Before Runway Incident
Officials are investigating a potentially dangerous runway situation at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) that was narrowly avoided on Friday afternoon, December 27.
What Happened?
At around 4:30 p.m., air traffic controllers instructed Key Lime Air Flight 563 to halt as it taxied toward a runway. A Delta Air Lines plane was already preparing for takeoff from the same runway, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Despite the instruction, the Key Lime Air Embraer E135 jet continued moving past the hold bars. Controllers quickly intervened, repeating, “Key Lime, stop, stop, stop.” Fortunately, the plane stopped before crossing the runway edge line, and the Delta flight took off without issue.
Livestream Captures the Incident
The situation was captured on a YouTube livestream by the channel AIRLINE VIDEOS, which frequently streams flight activity at LAX, including air traffic control audio. The video shows the Delta Air Lines flight gaining speed for takeoff as the Key Lime Air charter plane, which had recently landed, taxied toward its gate.
Who Was on Board?
NBC Los Angeles reported that the Key Lime Air charter flight was carrying the Gonzaga University men’s basketball team.
FAA Investigation Underway
The FAA has launched an investigation into the incident. While the airline has not provided immediate comment, Key Lime Air’s Senior Vice President Jon Coleman released a statement emphasizing the airline’s commitment to safety.
“Key Lime Air takes pride in its pilots and training model, which demands the highest competency in the industry today,” Coleman told NBC 4. “The safety of those entrusted to us is our highest priority.”
What’s Next?
Key Lime Air is working alongside the FAA and its internal safety management team to determine the cause of the incident and implement necessary measures to prevent a recurrence.
Although the situation ended without harm, it underscores the critical role of air traffic controllers and pilot awareness in maintaining safety at one of the nation’s busiest airports.
