Preventing Airport Near Misses: How Lidar and Physical AI Are Transforming Airport Ground Safety

April, 2026 – Matt Fisch.

Recent Airport Near Misses Highlight Gaps in Ground Safety

Recent headlines once again highlighted a near miss at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), where a commercial aircraft was forced to brake abruptly to avoid two service vehicles crossing its path on a taxiway. Yet another near-miss incident occurred with a truck and airplane at Charlotte’s airport in North Carolina.  

Fortunately, no one was injured, but incidents like this are not isolated and they point to a broader issue that continues to challenge the aviation industry. 

While much of the focus in aviation safety has traditionally centered on airspace, complex and high-risk environments also exist on the ground. 

The Overlooked Risks in Airport Ground Operations

Modern airports are increasingly dynamic ecosystems. Aircraft, service vehicles, ground crews, and equipment all operate simultaneously in tightly coordinated spaces. As traffic volumes grow and operational complexity increases, so does the risk of miscommunication, limited visibility, and human error. 

Despite advances in air traffic management, many ground operations still rely heavily on: 

• human line-of-sight  

• radio communication  

• procedural compliance  

Unexpected obstacles, human error, blind spots, poor weather conditions, and obstructed views can all contribute to situations where hazards are not detected in time. 

What Is Physical AI and Why It Matters for Aviation

This is where the concept of physical AI becomes increasingly important. 

Physical AI refers to intelligent systems that can perceive, interpret, and respond to the real world in real time. In aviation, this means moving beyond reactive processes toward proactive, perception-driven safety systems. 

Imagine an airport environment where: 

• Every aircraft, vehicle, and obstacle is continuously tracked in real time  

• Blind spots across taxiways and service roads are eliminated  

• Potential conflicts are identified and flagged before they escalate  

• Systems operate reliably regardless of lighting or weather conditions  

The Role of lidar in Ground Safety 

At the core of this transformation is advanced sensing technology, particularly lidar. 

Lidar provides high-resolution, three-dimensional perception of the environment, enabling systems to detect objects at long distances with precision. Unlike traditional camera-based systems, lidar is less dependent on lighting conditions and can perform reliably in low visibility or complex environments. 

For airport ground operations, this means: 

• earlier detection of potential hazards  

• improved situational awareness across large areas  

• more consistent performance in challenging conditions 

In scenarios like the recent LAX near miss, earlier detection and automated alerting could provide critical seconds of additional reaction time, potentially preventing incidents altogether. 

From Reactive to Proactive: The Future of Airport Ground Safety

The opportunity here extends beyond incremental improvements. 

By integrating advanced perception systems into airport infrastructure, operators can move toward a more intelligent, connected environment that actively monitors conditions and supports safer decision-making in real time. 

This represents a shift from: 

• reactive safety measures to responding after a risk is identified
  to  

• proactive systems identifying and mitigating risks before they occur  

As aviation continues to evolve, this type of infrastructure-level intelligence will become increasingly important. 

The Future of Airport Ground Safety Starts Now

The aviation industry has made significant progress in improving safety in the air. But as recent events remind us, the ground environment remains an area where meaningful gains can still be made. 

Near misses should not be accepted as routine outcomes. 

At AEye, we believe the next wave of aviation safety will be driven by software-defined perception systems that bring real-time awareness, adaptability, and intelligence to the physical world. 

Because in aviation, seeing sooner means acting sooner, and that can make all the difference. 

Matt Fisch, CEO