‘Stop, stop, stop’: Video shows Gonzaga University basketball team plane’s narrow escape at Los Angeles Airport

A private jet carrying Washington’s Gonzaga University men’s basketball team narrowly averted a collision at Los Angeles International Airport as an air traffic controller intervened swiftly. The officer could be heard ordering, “stop, stop, stop” as the team’s jet came dangerously close to crossing the runway of another aircraft that was taking off.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the incident, which happened on Friday.

“Air traffic controllers directed Key Lime Air Flight 563 to hold short of crossing a runway at Los Angeles International Airport because a second aircraft was taking off from the runway at the time. When the Embraer E135 jet proceeded to cross the hold bars, air traffic controllers told the pilots to stop. The jet never crossed the runway edge line,” the FAA said in a statement.

The incident was captured on a plane-spotting livestream, which recorded the audio of the air traffic controller telling the team’s Key Lime Air flight to “stop, stop, stop”.

The flight immediately stopped, and then proceeded after a few moments. It was coming from Spokane in Washington to Los Angeles.

The university acknowledged the incident and said, “Our team members aboard the aircraft were unaware of the situation as it occurred and we are grateful that the incident ended safely for all.”

The Delta spokesperson said there were no problems for its aircraft.

“Delta flight 471 operated as normal, and we are not aware of any communication from the FAA regarding this flight. We are cooperating with aviation officials on their investigation,” the airline said in an email.

Key Lime Air, which was carrying the team, did not comment on how the incident happened.