The Federal Aviation Administration has initiated an investigation following an incident involving a private jet carrying the Gonzaga University men’s basketball team at Los Angeles International Airport. The jet, operated by Key Lime Air, was directed by air traffic controllers to halt its movement as a Delta aircraft was taking off. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
According to the FAA, air traffic controllers instructed Key Lime Air Flight 563 to hold short of crossing a runway at LAX due to another aircraft's departure. Despite the directive, the Embraer E135 jet proceeded to cross the hold bars, prompting controllers to command the pilots to stop. The jet did not breach the runway edge line.
A plane-spotting livestream captured the incident, including audio of an air traffic controller urgently instructing the Key Lime Air flight to stop, which the pilots promptly complied with before continuing after a brief pause.
Gonzaga University was in Los Angeles for a game against UCLA, which they lost 65-62 at the Intuit Dome, the new home of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers. The university expressed awareness of the ongoing investigation and gratitude that the incident concluded safely for all individuals on board.
Key Lime Air has not yet responded to media inquiries, while Los Angeles World Airports redirected questions to the FAA, and Delta confirmed no issues with its flight. Gonzaga later won their West Coast Conference opener against Pepperdine 89-82 in Malibu.
During interviews, team members declined to comment on the flight incident, with one player expressing eagerness to return to Spokane, Washington, for their upcoming game against Portland. Head coach Mark Few emphasized the team's focus on securing a victory in their recent game.
