Los Angeles International Airport personnel wearing safety vests or bright-colored T-shirts take part in the first runway walk, picking up debris to clear Runway 24R on the north side of the airport.
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PHOTOS: Runway cleanup day at L.A. International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport personnel wearing safety vests or bright-colored T-shirts take part in the first runway walk, picking up debris to clear Runway 24R on the north side of the airport.

Los Angeles International Airport personnel wearing safety vests or bright-colored T-shirts take part in the first runway walk, picking up debris to clear Runway 24R on the north side of the airport. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

A plane lands at LAX as airport workers pick up debris to clear the runway. Participants included LAX-badged workers, airline representatives and other tenants, service providers and employees of the Federal Aviation Administration and Los Angeles World Airports.

A plane lands at LAX as airport workers pick up debris to clear the runway. Participants included LAX-badged workers, airline representatives and other tenants, service providers and employees of the Federal Aviation Administration and Los Angeles World Airports. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Don Freund picks up bits of debris on the runway.

Don Freund picks up bits of debris on the runway. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

A group of women show some of the metal debris they picked up on the runway. So-called foreign object debris is anything that potentially can impair an aircraft's ability to fly. It can be as small as coins or large as vehicle parts.

A group of women show some of the metal debris they picked up on the runway. So-called foreign object debris is anything that potentially can impair an aircraft’s ability to fly. It can be as small as coins or large as vehicle parts. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Bolts and pieces of metal were among the items picked up along the runway. LAX officials say foreign object debris is a major problem because it can result in costly damage to aircraft and support vehicles, delays in flights schedules and cause injuries to airport personnel.

Bolts and pieces of metal were among the items picked up along the runway. LAX officials say foreign object debris is a major problem because it can result in costly damage to aircraft and support vehicles, delays in flights schedules and cause injuries to airport personnel. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Dion Fatafehi, station manager for Swiss Air, holds two pieces of debris he collected during the runway cleanup.

Dion Fatafehi, station manager for Swiss Air, holds two pieces of debris he collected during the runway cleanup. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

An airplane fuel cap was picked up by a magnetic sweeper working along the runway.

An airplane fuel cap was picked up by a magnetic sweeper working along the runway. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

A wrench was among the items found during the runway cleanup.

A wrench was among the items found during the runway cleanup. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

LAX workers stand shoulder to shoulder, carrying plastic trash bags as they make their way along Runway 24R to clear it of any debris.

LAX workers stand shoulder to shoulder, carrying plastic trash bags as they make their way along Runway 24R to clear it of any debris. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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