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PHOTOS: Passengers injured as two planes collide on Miami airport tarmac
Two aircraft collided while moving on the tarmac at Miami International Airport in the United States, leaving two people with minor injuries.
The incident involved a Copa Airlines Boeing 737 and a UPS Boeing 767, which were taxiing after landing and preparing for departure, respectively.
The collision happened at approximately 9:15 p.m. on Saturday, when the wingtip of the Copa Airlines aircraft struck the nose of the UPS plane, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, FAA.
“The wingtip of a Copa Airlines Boeing 737 struck the nose of a UPS Boeing 767 while the airplanes were taxiing,” the FAA said.
Greg Chin, the airport’s communications director, told CNN that two people sustained minor injuries and received treatment from fire and rescue personnel at the scene.
A passenger aboard the Copa Airlines flight, Cesar Ferreira, recounted the incident, saying he initially heard other passengers reacting before the aircraft was struck.
“We were taxiing after landing at a normal speed when, all of a sudden, I heard the chatter around me getting louder, followed by a collective scream and then the impact of another aircraft hitting ours,” Ferreira told CNN.
“Inside the cabin, we felt the plane jerk abruptly sideways. At first, some passengers started freaking out, but the Copa crew reacted quickly, getting everyone to remain seated,” he added.
The FAA said air traffic controllers had instructed the UPS crew to give way to the Copa aircraft before the collision. The agency has since opened an investigation into the incident.
Recordings of radio communications between the pilots and air traffic controllers captured their exchanges shortly after the crash.
“Somebody hit us,” the Copa Airlines pilot said as the controller sought clarification from the UPS crew on whether the aircraft had made contact.
“Yeah, we went too far, and then he, he clipped us with the wing,” the UPS pilot responded.
The Copa pilot later reported that the aircraft appeared to have lost its left wingtip.
Ferreira said the captain addressed passengers about 10 minutes after the incident, assuring them that there was no immediate danger and that a tug would be brought in to move the aircraft.
Copa Airlines confirmed that all 166 passengers and six crew members had safely disembarked and that the aircraft was taken back to the terminal.
A photograph of the UPS aircraft showed extensive damage to its nose, including crumpled sections and a large hole in its outer panels.
The Copa Airlines flight had arrived in Miami from Panama City, Panama, while the UPS aircraft was preparing to depart for Bogotá, Colombia, when the collision occurred.
UPS said it was “committed to working with authorities to determine what happened” and confirmed that its crew members were safe.
Copa Airlines also expressed regret over the disruption caused to passengers, stating that their safety, alongside that of its crew, remained its highest priority. The airline pledged to cooperate fully with investigators.
The incident came as airports across the United States were still dealing with disruptions following an FAA ground stop on Friday, which triggered widespread flight cancellations and delays. Some stranded passengers reportedly spent the night on airport terminal floors while waiting for alternative flight arrangements.
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