FAA investigating another close call between plane and truck on tarmac


A Frontier Airlines jet nearly collided with two trucks that crossed in front of it at Los Angeles International Airport this week.

But unlike last month’s deadly crash in New York while a plane was landing, it happened on a taxiway while the plane was moving slowly.

The Frontier pilot was alarmed and used an expletive as he told the tower he had to slam on the brakes to avoid a collision late Wednesday.

“We just had two trucks cut us off,” the pilot said in audio posted by ATC.com. “We had to slam on the brakes to not hit them.”

“It happened so fast,” the pilot continued. “I have to go check on the flight attendants in the back. It was real close, closest I’ve ever seen.”

FAA investigating another close call between plane and truck on tarmac
The aftermath of the March 22 crash between an Air Canada and a fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport (Getty)

No one was hurt in the incident that is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The agency said several vehicles on a service road crossed in front of the plane around 11:25 p.m. Wednesday.

“We thank our crew for their vigilance and professionalism,” Frontier Airlines said in a statement.

On March 22, an Air Canada jet carrying 76 people collided with a fire truck while landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, killing both pilots and injuring dozens of people.

In that crash, an air traffic controller cleared the fire truck to cross the runway less than 20 seconds beforehand. Then seconds later the controller frantically called for the fire truck to stop.

The incident in Los Angeles appears to have happened in an area of the airport where the planes are communicating with air traffic controllers about their movements, but ground vehicles are simply supposed to yield to any planes, which are typically moving only about 15 mph (24 kph).

Airport officials didn’t respond immediately to questions about what happened and what procedures are in place to prevent collisions.

Aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo, who was a longtime United Airlines pilot, said these kind of incidents happen daily on taxiways across the country, but don’t normally get any attention because the collision is avoided. The issue will undoubtedly get more attention now.

“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 said.