FAA launches investigation after near collision involving Gonzaga team plane on runway

The FAA launched an investigation after a near collision involving the Gonzaga basketball team plane on Friday. Per Collin Rugg, Gonzaga’s team charter jet had just landed when it nearly pulled directly in front of another plane taking off.

On Tuesday, the Federal Aviation Administration released a statement regarding the incident. Overall, all parties avoided complete disaster.

“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,” the FAA said in a statement. “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 plane operated by Key Lime Air was ordered by air traffic controllers to stop as a Delta aircraft took off but no injuries were reported.

The university sent an email regarding the incident at LAX.

“We understand that the incident at LAX is under investigation and we will review this information as it becomes available,” the university said in an email Monday afternoon, via ESPN. “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.”

Delta also released a statement regarding the near collision with the Gonzaga team plane.

“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.

Gonzaga’s misfortune didn’t stop there. On Saturday, the Bulldogs suffered a 65-62 loss to UCLA. They bounced back with an 89-82 win over Pepperdine Monday night.

After kicking off its season with a 5-0 start, Gonzaga is 5-4 in its last nine games. Despite Gonzaga’s recent string of tough losses, Bulldogs head coach Mark Few hasn’t lost faith in his team.

“We’re playing a great schedule and great teams, and when you’re in a position to win in basketball, you just hope you can make a play, make a shot and get a stop at the end,” Few said after the loss to UCLA. “That was a tough call on Emmanuel [Innocenti] … guys did a great job executing, got great looks.

“We had a good looking 3 — Dusty [Stromer] got a wide-open 3 in the corner and just got to kind of make those plays, make those shots. That’s it, there’s nothing more than that.”

As frustrating as the losses may be for the Bulldogs, they’re a better team because of them. With five ranked matchups already under its belt this season, Gonzaga is one of the most battle-tested teams in the country.

Mark Few believes the team’s grueling non-conference schedule will benefit them in conference play.

“We really played some teams that pride themselves physically. You look at UConn, you look at West Virginia to a certain extent, you look at UCLA. I mean those are hard, physical teams. We’ve done a great job matching that.

“In the past, fortune smiled down on us a little bit. Now we need to come down and just make a play here, play there, simple as that. I’ve been telling these guys ‘The next shots going in.’”

Grant Grubbs contributed to this report