Two aircraft collide on runway at Miami International Airport

A collision occurred on the runway at Miami International Airport on Saturday, November 14, involving a UPS Boeing 767 and a Copa Airlines 737 that had just landed from Panama City. Air traffic control recordings captured the moment, with the commercial pilot reporting, "Somebody hit us," and the controller instructing, "UPS 358 you're supposed to give way to the 73 there."

The UPS crew acknowledged the impact, stating, "Yeah we went too far and then he, he clipped us with the wing," after which the controller ordered the aircraft to hold position. Fire trucks were dispatched to the scene, and a UPS spokesperson confirmed that the crew was safe and that the company would cooperate with investigators. The spokesperson added, "The safety of our employees and the public is our highest priority."

The incident follows a nationwide ground stop that forced the cancellation of thousands of flights across the United States. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said airlines would continue to experience delays and cancellations but indicated that the most severe disruptions were over. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said a contractor’s work to replace aging copper wiring with fiber optic cable may have overloaded the air traffic control system, leading to intermittent communications and radar gaps. He said officials were examining whether contractor incompetence or a faulty router caused the overload.