MIAMI: A UPS cargo aircraft and a Copa Airlines passenger jet collided while taxiing at Miami International Airport on Saturday night, adding to aviation concerns a day after a nationwide air traffic control disruption across the United States.
The collision occurred around 9.15 pm local time at the intersection of two taxiways. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the wingtip of a Copa Airlines Boeing 737 struck the nose of a UPS Boeing 767.
The Copa aircraft had arrived from Panama City and was taxiing towards its gate, while the UPS cargo plane was preparing to depart for Bogota, Colombia.
The FAA said air traffic controllers had instructed the UPS crew to give way to the Copa flight. Two people were treated for minor injuries at the scene, but neither required hospitalisation, airport officials said.
UPS said its crew was safe and that it would cooperate with authorities investigating the incident.
Airport officials said both aircraft were redirected to other taxiways and the collision did not affect overall airport operations.
The incident came a day after the FAA ordered a nationwide ground stop on November 13 following communication problems at multiple air traffic control centres. The disruption lasted more than four hours and led to widespread flight cancellations and delays across the country.
The FAA later lifted the ground stop, but airlines continued to deal with disruptions as they worked to reposition aircraft and crews. The US Department of Transportation said the communication problems affected systems used for air traffic control, including radar and communications networks.
The FAA has launched an investigation into the Miami collision.
With input from media reports