Two planes collide on taxiway at Miami airport one day after national grounding

On Saturday night, a collision occurred between a Copa Airlines Boeing 737 and a United Parcel Service Boeing 767 on a taxiway at Miami International Airport. The incident happened just one day after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented a nationwide ground stop due to communication issues across multiple air traffic control centers.

The wingtip of the Copa 737 struck the nose of the UPS 767 when both aircraft were taxiing at the airport. According to the FAA, the UPS crew had been instructed to yield to the Copa flight prior to the collision. Two individuals sustained minor injuries and received medical attention following the incident, which occurred around 9pm local time.

Cesar Ferreira, a passenger on the Copa flight, recounted the sudden interruption in the cabin, noting the crew's swift actions to keep passengers seated. Copa Airlines expressed regret for the disruption to passengers, emphasizing their commitment to safety and cooperation with the ongoing investigation. The airport confirmed that flights were rerouted to alternative taxiways, ensuring no disruption to operations.

UPS reassured the public of their crew's safety and pledged to collaborate with authorities to determine the cause of the collision. The week had been characterized by significant flight delays and cancellations following the four-hour FAA ground stop on Friday. This stop was attributed to routine maintenance to transition telecommunication lines from copper wire to fiber optic cables, as claimed by the Trump administration's transportation secretary Sean Duffy.

However, critics argued that the White House had not allocated the necessary funding for such upgrades to the US air travel infrastructure.