Crime & Safety
'Closest I've Ever Seen:' Plane Nearly Collides With 2 Trucks Crossing LAX Taxiway: Reports
Pilots of a Frontier Airlines plane were forced to slam on their brakes while taxiing to avoid two trucks that cut off the plane.
A Frontier Airlines flight had a near-collision close call with two trucks while taxiing Wednesday night at Los Angeles International Airport, according to reports.
The Atlanta-bound plane was taxiing to the runway at around 11 p.m. when the pilot alerted ground controllers that the trucks had cut in front of the aircraft, forcing the pilot to brake suddenly, NBC Los Angeles reported, citing a transcript of air traffic control audio.
“Hey ground … did you see this?” the pilot said. When air traffic control responded that it had not, the pilot replied “Two trucks just cut us off … we had to slam on the brakes over here.”
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The pilot continued, saying the cockpit crew were unable to identify the trucks. “It happened so fast. Both of us were just like ‘holy s---.' We slammed on the brakes. I'm gonna have to call the flight attendants [and] make sure everybody's alright in the back. It was real close. Closest I've ever seen," People reported.
The two trucks cut off the aircraft at a service road intersection identified as Kilo and Bravo, NBC Los Angeles reported.
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The FAA said in a statement it is investigating the incident.
"Frontier Airlines Flight 3216 was taxiing at Los Angeles International Airport when several service vehicles on a service road crossed in front of the aircraft," the statement reads.
No one was injured in the incident, a Frontier spokesperson told People.
The close call at LAX was reminiscent of the collision between an Air Canada jet and a fire truck on a runway at LaGuardia Airport last month, which killed the pilot and co-pilot.
Days before the crash, the FAA had updated its list of airport "hot spots" — areas known for having a risk of collisions or runway confusion. In California, locations at 34 airports were on that list, including LAX.
The "hot spots" concern numerous safety issues, including areas where vehicles are in the same areas as moving airplanes.
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