Plane Collision in Miami: Two Planes Collide on Ground at Miami International Airport, Minor Injuries

two large commercial aircraft involved in a minor ground collision on an expansive airport taxiway, showing the wingtip of a passenger plane pressed near the vi

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

Incident Overview: Ground Collision at Miami International Airport

Federal aviation safety officials are investigating a minor collision between two aircraft at Miami International Airport that occurred at a taxiway intersection on Saturday night. The incident, reported by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), involved a Copa Airlines Boeing 737 passenger plane and a UPS Boeing 767 cargo aircraft.

Details of the Accident

The crash took place at approximately 9 p.m. on November 14. According to the NTSB and Copa Airlines, the wingtip of the Copa flight, which had 172 passengers and crew on board, struck the nose of the UPS plane while both were maneuvering on the taxiway. As a result, two people reported minor injuries and were treated at the scene.

Flight Paths and Aircraft Involved

Copa Airlines stated that their Boeing 737 had just arrived from Panama City, while the UPS Boeing 767 was preparing to depart for Bogotá, Colombia. Both aircraft sustained damage; photos from the scene show the UPS cargo plane with a horizontal gash and a larger hole on its nose section. The Copa aircraft's wing was also damaged in the collision.

Air Traffic Control Communications and Initial Findings

Audio recordings archived by ATC.com reveal that a UPS pilot informed air traffic control that his aircraft went too far at the intersection and was clipped by the Copa Airlines flight. Air traffic control can be heard telling the UPS pilot that he was supposed to yield to the approaching Copa plane. The NTSB announced that it is collecting more information about the incident and may provide further updates related to the ongoing investigation.

Reactions from Airlines and Authorities

In a statement released on social media, Copa Airlines described the collision as minor and confirmed that two passengers received treatment for minor injuries. UPS also issued a statement, explaining that it is working alongside authorities to determine the details of what happened, while emphasizing that it cannot speculate on the circumstances of the accident. The NTSB remains the lead agency in charge of the investigation and will release information as it becomes available.

Context: Recent Miami International Airport Incidents

This taxiway collision follows a previous incident two months ago at Miami International Airport, where an Amazon cargo plane overran a runway and struck a van, resulting in five fatalities. Aviation safety and airport ground accident procedures continue to be closely monitored at the busy international hub.