Miami (Rajeev Sharma): Two aircraft were involved in a ground collision at Miami International Airport on Saturday night, raising fresh concerns about aviation safety just a day after a nationwide flight disruption caused widespread travel chaos across the United States.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the wingtip of a Copa Airlines Boeing 737 struck the nose of a UPS Boeing 767 while both aircraft were taxiing on the airport tarmac. The incident occurred at around 9:15 p.m. local time. Airport communications director Greg Chin confirmed that two people sustained minor injuries and received treatment at the scene from fire and rescue personnel.
The Copa Airlines aircraft had arrived from Panama City, Panama, while the UPS plane was preparing to depart for Bogotá, Colombia. The FAA said air traffic controllers had instructed the UPS crew to give way to the Copa flight. An investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances that led to the collision.
Audio from air traffic control captured the Copa pilot reporting that another aircraft had struck their plane. The UPS pilot subsequently acknowledged that the aircraft had gone too far and its wing had clipped the Copa jet. The Copa crew later reported possible damage to the aircraft’s left wingtip.
A passenger aboard the Copa flight, Cesar Ferreira, told CNN that passengers heard raised voices before feeling a sudden sideways jolt. He said the cabin crew responded quickly and instructed everyone to remain seated. Around 10 minutes after the incident, the captain informed passengers that there was no immediate danger and that a tug would be brought in to move the aircraft.
All 166 passengers and six crew members eventually disembarked, and the Copa aircraft was taken back to the terminal, the airline confirmed. Images of the UPS aircraft showed significant damage to its nose, including crumpled panels.
Both airlines said passenger and crew safety remained their priority and confirmed they would cooperate with the authorities. UPS said its crew was safe, while Copa Airlines apologised for the inconvenience caused by the incident.
The collision occurred as US airports were still dealing with the aftermath of an FAA ground stop on Friday, which had triggered widespread cancellations and left many travellers stranded while waiting for alternative flights. Normal operations were gradually being restored when Saturday night’s incident added another disruption at one of the country’s busiest international airports.
