Two aircraft collide at Miami International Airport
Two aircraft collided at Miami International Airport on Saturday night, leaving two people with minor injuries, according to officials.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the collision occurred when a Copa Airlines Boeing 737 struck the nose of a UPS Boeing 767. Both aircraft were moving along the airport's taxiways at the time of the incident.
Air traffic instructions
According to the FAA, air traffic controllers had instructed the UPS crew to yield to the Copa flight. The Copa plane was taxiing to its gate after arriving from Panama City, while the UPS aircraft was preparing for departure to Bogotá.
Air traffic controllers had told the UPS crew to give way to the Copa flight.
Passenger safety
Copa Airlines confirmed there were 166 passengers and six crew members aboard its Boeing 737-800NG when the collision occurred. The airline expressed regret for any inconvenience caused while emphasizing passenger and crew safety remained its priority.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue treated two patients for minor injuries at the scene, with no medical transport required, according to MIA communications director Greg Chin.
Airport operations
Chin stated the incident happened around 9:15 pm and had no impact on airport operations, as flights were redirected to other taxiways. Images circulating on social media showed damage to the nose of the UPS plane.
The collision occurred amid widespread travel disruptions in the US following a nationwide ground stop ordered due to a telecommunications outage, which led to thousands of flight cancellations. Airlines expect to return to normal schedules by Sunday night, the FAA reported.
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