Minor Injuries After Ground Collision Between Planes at Miami International Airport

a passenger airliner and a large cargo plane stopped at an intersection on a concrete airport taxiway, the wingtip of one plane resting very close to the nose o

AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.

Authorities Investigate Miami International Airport Plane Collision

Federal aviation officials have launched an investigation after a ground collision involving two aircraft at Miami International Airport resulted in minor injuries. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. on Saturday, involving a Copa Airlines Boeing 737 carrying 172 people and a UPS Boeing 767 cargo plane.

Details of the Taxiway Accident

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Copa Airlines, the accident happened at a taxiway intersection when the wingtip of the Copa Airlines plane struck the nose of the UPS aircraft. Airport authorities confirmed that two people suffered minor injuries in the collision and were treated at the scene.

Sequence of Events and Communication

Audio recordings from ATC.com captured the moments following the accident. A pilot operating the UPS plane told air traffic control that he had gone too far at the intersection, resulting in his aircraft being clipped by the approaching Copa plane. Air traffic controllers reminded the UPS pilot that yielding to the Copa aircraft was required at the intersection.

NTSB Investigation and Airline Statements

The NTSB stated it was gathering information about the incident and may provide a further update. In a statement on social media, Copa Airlines described the event as a minor collision and confirmed that only two passengers were treated for minor injuries. UPS announced it was cooperating with investigators and emphasized that it could not speculate on the circumstances surrounding the mishap, deferring to the NTSB for official information.

Flight Itineraries and Visual Damage

Officials reported that the Copa Airlines flight had just arrived from Panama City, while the UPS plane was preparing to depart for Bogotá, Colombia. Photos from the scene depicted the UPS aircraft with a noticeable gash and a larger hole on the nose, providing a clear indication of the impact location where the two planes collided on the taxiway.

Context: Recent Miami Airport Incidents

This ground collision occurred two months after a separate incident in which an Amazon cargo plane overran a runway at Miami International Airport and crashed into a van, resulting in five fatalities. The recent taxiway accident has again drawn attention to airport safety protocols and the critical importance of situational awareness during ground operations.