Frontier Jet Brakes to Avoid Trucks at LAX

A Frontier Airlines jet bound for Atlanta came within seconds of colliding with two trucks that crossed its path on a taxiway at Los Angeles International Airport late Wednesday night, prompting the pilots to slam on the brakes and avoid disaster.

The incident involved Frontier Flight 3216, an Airbus A321 carrying 217 passengers and seven crew members. Around 11:25 p.m., the aircraft was taxiing slowly, at about 10 to 15 miles per hour, toward a runway for takeoff when the trucks, operating on a nearby service road, cut directly in front of it. Audio recordings of the pilots' communications with air traffic control captured the urgency of the moment. "We just had two trucks cut us off," the pilot radioed. "We had to slam on the brakes not to hit them." Moments later, the pilot added, "It happened so fast... It was real close, closest I've ever seen." The crew checked on passengers and flight attendants, but no injuries were reported, and the flight departed for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport without further incident.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the close call. According to the agency, the trucks were among several vehicles on the...