Two people were injured Saturday night when a commercial airliner struck the nose of a UPS cargo jet on the ground at Miami International Airport, according to TMZ.com. The Copa Airlines flight's left wing clipped the UPS aircraft, which was bound for Bogotá, Colombia.
Air traffic control audio captured the immediate aftermath, with the Copa Airlines pilot reporting the collision just after impact. "Somebody hit us," the pilot told controllers, TMZ.com reported. The UPS cargo flight's pilot acknowledged on the same audio going "too far" on the runway before the Copa flight "clipped us with his wing."
A Miami International Airport spokesperson said flights were redirected to other runways following the incident, and that two patients received care from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, according to TMZ.com.
The runway collision capped a difficult stretch for air travelers. On Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop for all flights over several hours, citing "extraordinary circumstances." Sean Duffy ultimately attributed the disruption to "old legacy equipment," TMZ.com reported.
For South Florida travelers, the Saturday night collision adds to a weekend of uncertainty at one of the region's busiest international gateways. Miami International Airport serves as a major hub for flights throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, and the redirection of traffic to alternate runways can ripple through arrival and departure schedules. Travelers booked on flights to or from Bogotá and other regional destinations should confirm their flight status with their carrier before heading to the airport.
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Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a pop culture junkie and loves to share what's happening in Hollywood and what trends are taking the world by storm.
