Federal aviation officials are examining a dangerous near-collision that occurred at Los Angeles International Airport this week when a Frontier Airlines aircraft came dangerously close to hitting two service vehicles that moved across its path.
The incident unfolded late Wednesday evening around 11:25 p.m. as the commercial jet was traveling along a taxiway. The pilot expressed alarm and used strong language when reporting to air traffic control that he was forced to apply emergency braking to prevent a crash. “It was real close. The closest I have ever seen,” the pilot stated, according to audio recordings published by ATC.com.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed they are investigating the event, noting that multiple vehicles from a service road crossed directly in front of the aircraft. Fortunately, no injuries resulted from the incident.
“We thank our crew for their vigilance and professionalism,” Frontier Airlines stated in their official response.
This close call comes just weeks after a tragic accident at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on March 22, where an Air Canada aircraft carrying 76 passengers and crew members struck a fire truck during landing. That collision resulted in the deaths of both pilots and left dozens injured.
In the LaGuardia tragedy, an air traffic controller had authorized the fire vehicle to cross the runway less than 20 seconds before the crash, then desperately attempted to halt the truck’s movement moments later.
The Los Angeles incident occurred in a section of the airport where aircraft coordinate their movements through air traffic control communications, while ground vehicles are expected to give way to any planes, which typically travel at approximately 15 mph on taxiways. Airport representatives have not yet responded to inquiries about the circumstances or existing safety protocols designed to prevent such conflicts.
Former United Airlines pilot and aviation safety specialist Steve Arroyo noted that similar incidents occur regularly at airports nationwide but typically receive little notice when collisions are successfully avoided. He believes these events will now receive increased scrutiny.
“Multiple incidents, accidents happening, just in March alone, I think it’s time to put some serious eyes on what’s going on on the ramp,” Arroyo commented.
