Dec 18, 2024; Spokane, Washington, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Dusty Stromer (4) warms up before a game against the Bucknell Bison at McCarthey Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images

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WATCH: Jet carrying Gonzaga basketball team narrowly escape collision with another aircraft

FAA investigates close call at LAX as a jet carrying Gonzaga's men's basketball team is ordered to stop to prevent a runway collision.

The Federal Aviation Administration has initiated an inquiry following an incident where a private jet transporting the Gonzaga Bulldogs team almost entered a runway while another aircraft was departing on Friday at Los Angeles International Airport.

“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, 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 FAA said in a statement.

The FAA has launched an investigation after a private jet carrying the Gonzaga University men's basketball team nearly crossed a runway as another flight was taking off at LAX https://t.co/DEndEDXtIL pic.twitter.com/4X5LlJz5Or
— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) December 31, 2024

Air traffic controllers instructed the plane operated by Key Lime Air to halt as a Delta aircraft departed. Nobody was hurt. A live stream dedicated to plane spotting displays the event and recorded an air traffic controller instructing the Key Lime Air flight to “Stop, stop, stop.” The flight halted suddenly and then continued after a brief pause.

Gonzaga traveled to Los Angeles for its matchup with UCLA on Saturday. The Bulldogs fell to the Bruins 65-62 in the inaugural college basketball match at Intuit Dome, the newly established venue for the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers. Key Lime Air did not promptly reply to The Associated Press inquiry for comment on Monday.

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“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.

Los Angeles World Airport directed a media question to the FAA, while a Delta representative stated that there were no issues with its planes. No. 19 Gonzaga secured victory in its West Coast Conference debut on Monday night, defeating Pepperdine 89-82 in Malibu. Khalif Battle, a sixth-year guard who led the team with 21 points, chose not to respond when questioned about the events on Friday’s flight. An official handling media inquiries declined to elaborate further.

Gonzaga Bulldogs edge past Pepperdine for victory in WCC opener

The Gonzaga Bulldogs secured an 89-82 win against the Pepperdine Waves in their West Coast Conference opener at Firestone Fieldhouse on Monday night. San Francisco transfer Stefan Todorovic has been the sole offensive force for the Waves this season, although the 6-foot-8 senior got significant support from a pair of his teammates in their effort to surprise the Zags.

Jaxon Olvera started strong, especially from the midrange zone, scoring 16 points in the first half to lead Pepperdine. The 6-foot-5 freshman made a significant impact again late in the game with a jump shot over Khalif Battle and then scored in transition near the end of the second half. The Waves almost erased a 20-point deficit after halftime, largely due to Moe Odum’s outstanding offensive performance following the break. The 6-foot-1 guard netted 10 of his team’s initial 12 points in the second half, bringing the score to 54-44 with 16:25 remaining in regulation.

What a wild final sequence. Note that despite having been in zero final possession for the win games that Gonzaga knew exactly what to do even after that killer Juzang tie bucket. No timeout. No panic. Get it to Suggs and let him go. pic.twitter.com/3mMMn83z3W
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) April 4, 2021

Olvera hit a 3-pointer next, and then Todorovic completed a traditional 3-point play on the subsequent Waves possession, bringing the score to 64-60. That was the nearest Pepperdine would come before Graham Ike aided in increasing Gonzaga’s lead with three consecutive points in the paint.

In the second half, Pepperdine’s top trio of Olvera, Todorovic, and Odum contributed 46 of the team’s 50 points. Olvera topped the scoring with a personal best of 27 points, Odum contributed 24, and Todorovic provided 19.

Image Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images

Gonzaga Bulldogs

NBA 2024-25

Anamika Shrivastava

nhl

I’ve always loved writing and storytelling, and hockey gives me a perfect stage for endless stories to tell. Whether it’s breaking down a game, analyzing a big trade, or capturing the emotions on the ice, I bring the NHL to life through words. So what’s the best part you ask? Watching the action unfold and turning it into something fans can connect with. To my readers: Hockey is more than just a game—it’s the highs, the heartbreaks, and the moments that make us jump off our seats. So, keep cheering, keep debating, and never stop loving the madness of the sport!