Federal aviation safety officials launched an investigation on Sunday following a minor collision between two airplanes at a taxiway intersection at Miami International Airport. Authorities confirmed that the wingtip of one aircraft struck the nose of the other, resulting in minor injuries for two individuals.
The incident occurred around 9 p.m. on Saturday and involved two commercial aircraft. One was a Copa Airlines Boeing 737 passenger plane carrying 172 people, while the other was a UPS Boeing 767 cargo jet. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the wing of the Copa flight made contact with the nose section of the UPS plane.
Visual evidence from the scene depicts significant damage to the nose of the UPS aircraft. Photographs show a horizontal gash along one side of the nose, as well as a larger hole located in the center of the structure.
Audio recordings captured by ATC.com provide insight into the sequence of events. A pilot from the UPS plane communicated with air traffic control, stating that he had advanced too far into the intersection. He reported that his aircraft was clipped by the Copa flight. Air traffic control subsequently informed the UPS pilot that he was required to yield the right of way to the Copa aircraft.
The Copa Airlines aircraft had just completed its arrival from Panama City at the time of the collision. In contrast, the UPS cargo plane was preparing for a departure to Bogota, Colombia. Officials are currently gathering all relevant data to understand the circumstances leading up to the impact.
Copa Airlines released a statement on social media describing the collision as minor. The airline noted that two of its passengers were treated at the scene for minor injuries. The NTSB indicated that it is actively collecting information and may issue a further update on the investigation on Sunday.
UPS responded by stating that it is collaborating with authorities to determine the full scope of the incident. In a formal statement, the company emphasized that it does not wish to speculate on the specific details. UPS noted that the NTSB is the body responsible for such investigations and will manage the distribution of information.
The NTSB remains the primary agency leading the inquiry into the ground collision. Investigators are reviewing available data, including flight records and air traffic control communications, to assess how the two aircraft came into contact at the busy airport intersection.
This event marks a notable occurrence at Miami International Airport in recent months. The accident took place two months after a separate incident involving an Amazon cargo plane. That previous event saw the cargo jet depart the runway and collide with a van carrying workers for an aircraft cleaning company, which resulted in five fatalities.
Airport operations continued following the Saturday night collision, with authorities managing the removal of the damaged aircraft and the assessment of the taxiway. The focus of the ongoing investigation is on understanding the precise mechanics of the collision and evaluating the factors that contributed to the incident.
