UPS and Copa Airlines Jets Collide at Miami Airport

UPS Boeing 767 and Copa Airlines 737 Collide at Miami Airport

On November 14, 2026, a UPS Boeing 767 cargo plane and a Copa Airlines 737 passenger jet made contact while taxiing at Miami International Airport. The incident occurred around 9:15 p.m. near the intersection of Taxiways Y and P. Airport officials reported no injuries, though some passengers on the Copa flight later complained of back pain. The collision did not significantly disrupt airport operations, as flights were rerouted to other taxiways.

Aircraft Involved and Initial Reports

The UPS aircraft was identified as UPS 358, a Boeing 767. The Copa Airlines plane was a Boeing 737-800 that had just arrived from Panama City. Flight-tracking data indicated the planes stopped nose-to-tail following the collision. Initial reports from the airport stated no injuries occurred. However, a journalist at the scene reported that two individuals on the Copa flight experienced back pain.

Air Traffic Control Exchange

Audio from air traffic control captured an exchange following the incident. One pilot stated, “Somebody hit us.” The controller then addressed UPS 358, saying, “UPS 358, you’re supposed to give way to the 73 there.” After a brief, partially unintelligible exchange, the controller asked if the UPS aircraft had hit the other plane. The UPS pilot responded, “Yeah we went too far and he clipped us with his wing.” This suggests the UPS 767 may have encroached on the space of the Copa 737.

Damage and Operational Impact

The exact extent of damage to both aircraft was not immediately clear. Descriptions of the contact varied, with some suggesting the nose of one plane struck the wingtip of the other. Despite the collision, airport officials stated that operations continued with minimal disruption. Flights were directed to use alternative taxiways to maintain the flow of air traffic.

Broader Aviation Context

This taxiing collision occurred during a period of broader aviation disruption in the United States. The day before, a nationwide ground stop had been ordered due to a communications issue affecting air route traffic control centers. This outage was attributed to outdated equipment and a contractor’s work on communication lines. The Miami airport incident and the nationwide ground stop were separate events.

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