FAA Investigates Latest LAX Runway Incursion

A Virgin Atlantic Airways jumbo jet missed a SkyWest Brasilia by as little as 50 feet in the latest runway incursion at Los Angeles, the site of many other such incidents. Runway incursions remain a major problem for regionals. Related Story The incident occurred on Sunday and, according to press reports, the fault may lie with SkyWest which purportedly made a wrong turn, violating a safety zone separating the outer runway from taxiways on the north side of the airport. A recreation of the incident revealed the arriving jet’s wing may have come as close as 21 feet from the arriving turboprop. SkyWest is part of the investigation. The Brasilia landed on the outer runway and failed to follow ATC instructions to turn left on taxiway Zulu. Thirty-three-mile-an-hour winds slowed the actions of the Brasilia which was being repositioned from Redding. Only the crew was aboard. ATC instructed the aircraft to go faster but watched it turn onto taxiway Yankee instead of Zulu. Following corrective instructions from ATC, the SkyWest crew was exiting the safety zone when the Virgin Atlantic A340 rumbled by.