A serious incident at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Friday has prompted a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigation. A Delta airliner narrowly avoided colliding with the Gonzaga men's basketball team's charter plane. Video footage reveals the tense moments as Delta Flight 471 prepared for takeoff while the charter plane, operated by Key Lime Air, crossed the runway. An air traffic controller's urgent command, "Stop, stop, stop!" averted a potential catastrophe.

Footage captured by plane spotter Kevin Ray and shared on YouTube underscores the gravity of the situation. Ray's audible reaction of "Wow!" highlights how close the two aircraft came to impact. Given that commercial planes typically reach speeds of 150-180 mph before takeoff, a collision could have had devastating consequences. Ray commented that in his years of observing air traffic, he had never heard a controller issue such a frantic warning.

While Delta confirmed their cooperation with the investigation, they stated they were unaware of the FAA's involvement and that Flight 471 proceeded without further incident. This near-miss occurred just days after a tragic plane crash in South Korea, adding to concerns about aviation safety.

The Gonzaga Bulldogs, ranked 19th nationally, had arrived in Los Angeles for their game against No. 15 UCLA. Despite a strong performance by Gonzaga's Graham Ike (24 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists), UCLA emerged victorious with a 65-62 win. A missed free throw by Gonzaga's Ryan Nembhard in the final seconds sealed the Bulldogs' fate.

Gonzaga will remain in California to play Pepperdine before returning to Washington. Key Lime Air has not yet responded to requests for comment.