Frontier Airlines jet narrowly avoids collision with trucks at LAX

FAA investigating how two vehicles crossed the taxiway in front of the plane during takeoff

Apr. 10, 2026 at 5:05pm

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A bold, geometric illustration in shades of blue and gray, depicting the sweeping silhouette of an aircraft against a backdrop of angular, Art Deco-inspired architecture, capturing the grand scale and romance of air travel.A near-miss at a major airport raises concerns about ground operations safety as aircraft and service vehicles navigate tight spaces.Los Angeles Today

A Frontier Airlines Airbus A321 was forced to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting two trucks that crossed the taxiway in front of the plane as it was preparing for takeoff from Los Angeles International Airport. The close call occurred in an area where air traffic controllers could not see the vehicles due to a building blocking their view.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the potential risks of ground operations at busy airports, where aircraft and service vehicles must navigate tight spaces and coordinate closely to avoid collisions. It comes just weeks after a deadly crash at New York's LaGuardia airport, raising concerns about airport safety protocols.

The details

The Frontier flight 3216 was taxiing for takeoff around 11:25 pm local time on Wednesday when the pilots suddenly had to stop the plane to avoid hitting the two trucks that had pulled in front of them. According to the pilot, 'We just had two trucks just cut us off. We had to slam on the brakes not to hit them.' The close call occurred in an 'ATC non-visibility area' where air traffic controllers could not see the planes due to a building blocking their view.

  • The incident occurred around 11:25 pm local time on Wednesday, April 10, 2026.
  • It comes just weeks after a deadly crash at New York's LaGuardia airport.

The players

Frontier Airlines

A major U.S. low-cost carrier that operates flights to destinations across North America.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The U.S. government agency responsible for the regulation and oversight of civil aviation.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

One of the busiest airports in the world, located in Los Angeles, California.

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What they’re saying

“We just had two trucks just cut us off. We had to slam on the brakes not to hit them.”

— Frontier Airlines Pilot

“It happened so fast both of us were just like 'holy s**t' and we slammed on the brakes. I'm going to have to call the flight attendants to make sure everybody is alright in the back. It was real close. Closest I'd ever seen.”

— Frontier Airlines Pilot

What’s next

The FAA is investigating the incident to determine how the two trucks were able to cross the taxiway in front of the Frontier Airlines jet, and whether any safety protocols or procedures need to be reviewed or updated to prevent similar close calls in the future.

The takeaway

This near-miss at LAX underscores the critical importance of coordination and communication between aircraft and ground vehicles at busy airports to maintain the highest levels of safety. It serves as a wake-up call that even with advanced air traffic control systems, unexpected incursions can still occur and put lives at risk.