A chartered jet carrying the Gonzaga men’s basketball team narrowly avoided being hit by another plane on Friday.
The aircraft carrying the Bulldogs, an Embraer E135, was taxiing to its gate after landing at Los Angeles International Airport. Delta flight 471 was taking off on a nearby runway and the two planes got so close, an air traffic controller yelled “Stop, Stop, Stop!”
The Bulldogs’ aircraft slowed to a stop as the Delta aircraft took off without incident.
Commercial jets usually reach speeds of up to 150-180 mph for takeoff. The Federal Aviation Administration, said the jet never crossed the edge of the runway, but the agency has launched an investigation into the close call.
The Bulldogs went on to face the UCLA Bruins in a game on Saturday. They lost to the Bruins 65-62 and will remain in Los Angeles to take on Pepperdine University on Monday night.
