‘Somebody hit us’: Recording captures pilot's words as two planes collide at Miami airport

Air traffic controllers had specifically instructed a UPS cargo aircraft to give way to a Copa Airlines passenger plane before the two planes collided while taxiing at Miami International Airport on Saturday and left two people injured, according to a report.

ALSO READ | US's longest aircraft stoppage in 25 years: Why a problem on the ground affected flights thousands of miles away The FAA said air traffic controllers had instructed the UPS crew to give way to the Copa Airlines flight, CNN reported.

The passenger flight was carrying 166 passengers and six crew. Two people were injured in the incident, Greg Chin, the airport’s communications director, told the news outlet. “Somebody hit us,” the Copa Airlines pilot reportedly said in an air traffic control recording.

The controller then asked the UPS crew whether their aircraft had made contact with another plane. The UPS pilot responded, “Yeah, we went too far, and then he, he clipped us with the wing,” as per the recording. Later, the Copa pilot reportedly said, “It seems that we are missing the left wingtip.” UPS said it was “committed to working with authorities to determine what happened” and confirmed that its crew was safe.

In its statement, Copa Airlines said it “regrets the disruption this incident may cause our passengers. The safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority, and we will cooperate with authorities as they investigate.” The FAA said it had launched an investigation into the collision, which took place at around 9 pm local time.

Saturday's incident came a day after a technical glitch forced the US to halt flights nationwide for the longest period in more than two decades. The disruption was blamed on a data overload that affected air traffic control communications and radar systems.

Transportation secretary Sean Duffy said the problem started after L3Harris Technologies Inc replaced old copper cables at a remote site. A router then began sending an excessive number of connection requests to the air traffic control network.

Duffy said he would formally ask the US Congress on Monday to approve $50 billion in emergency funding to upgrade the air traffic control system. Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times.

Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs.

The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals.

The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources.

Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More