A routine day at Los Angeles International Airport turned into a white-knuckle moment this week when a Frontier Airlines passenger jet came dangerously close to colliding with two ground service trucks while taxiing across the tarmac.
The near-miss incident has triggered a formal investigation by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), raising fresh questions about ground safety protocols at one of North America's busiest airports.
What Happened at LAX
According to FAA officials, the Frontier Airlines aircraft was in motion on the tarmac when it narrowly avoided striking the two vehicles. While no passengers or crew members were injured, and the aircraft did not make contact with either truck, the incident was close enough to warrant immediate scrutiny by federal authorities.
Ground operations at major airports involve complex choreography between aircraft, service vehicles, baggage handlers, and fuel trucks. Even moments of inattention or communication breakdown can create dangerous situations that endanger lives on the tarmac.
FAA Investigation Underway
The FAA has begun reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident to determine what factors led to the dangerous proximity. Investigators will examine communications between air traffic control, ground crews, and the flight deck, as well as visibility conditions and vehicle positioning at the time of the near-collision.
Frontier Airlines has not yet released a formal statement regarding the incident, though the airline typically cooperates fully with federal safety investigations.
Safety in Focus
Tarmac safety remains a critical concern for the aviation industry. The FAA has implemented strict protocols for ground operations, including mandatory training, communication standards, and vehicle routing procedures designed to prevent exactly these types of incidents.
The fact that this close call occurred at LAX—one of the nation's largest and busiest airports—underscores the high-stakes environment in which ground crews operate daily, often managing dozens of simultaneous aircraft movements and service operations.
This story was originally reported by ABC News.