A collision between two planes occurred Saturday night at Miami International Airport, just one day after a nationwide flight grounding caused widespread travel disruptions. The wingtip of a Copa Airlines Boeing 737 struck the nose of a UPS Boeing 767 while both aircraft were taxiing, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The incident happened around 9:15 p.m. and resulted in two minor injuries.
Passenger Cesar Ferreira described the moment of impact, saying, "We were taxiing after landing at a normal speed when, all of a sudden, I heard the chatter around me getting louder, followed by a collective scream and then the impact of another aircraft hitting ours." The Copa Airlines crew quickly responded to calm passengers and ensure safety.
Air traffic controllers had instructed the UPS crew to yield to the Copa Airlines flight, the FAA stated. The agency is investigating the collision. Both airlines expressed their commitment to cooperating with authorities. UPS confirmed its crew was safe, while Copa Airlines apologized for the disruption.
The incident follows a nationwide FAA ground stop on Friday, which caused significant flight cancellations and delays. All 166 passengers and six crew members on the Copa Airlines flight safely disembarked, and the damaged plane was returned to the terminal. A photo of the UPS plane shows significant damage to its nose.