A UPS cargo plane had to abort its landing at a Kentucky airport on Tuesday to avoid colliding with another aircraft on the runway. This incident has drawn attention, given a recent tragic crash at the same location.
Reported audio from the scene captured an air traffic controller exclaiming, “What are you doing?” as the near-miss unfolded, indicating a tense moment for everyone involved.
The Boeing 767, noted as UPS Flight 1303, had landed at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport after a flight from Atlanta. While on approach, air traffic control instructed a small plane to go around, coincidentally placing it in the path of the UPS jet.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the UPS aircraft was told to circle back after the smaller plane entered the runway without clearance. Fortunately, the necessary spacing between planes was maintained.
In a recording of the exchange, the controller appeared to urgently instruct the smaller aircraft, identified as Skylab 25, to halt before redirecting the UPS jet.
The UPS representative stated that the plane executed a “safe go-around” during the maneuver, emphasizing that there were no injuries or operational disruptions. Michelle Polk, a UPS spokeswoman, confirmed that the action followed standard protocol for such scenarios.
Flight tracking data indicated that the aircraft descended to around 500 feet before climbing back to approximately 1,500 feet rather quickly.
Interestingly, the Louisville facility, known as UPS Worldport, is the largest package sorting center worldwide, serving a critical role in the company’s aviation network.
This close call occurs shortly after a different UPS cargo plane crash at the same airport, which tragically resulted in the deaths of 15 individuals.
The November 2025 incident involved a UPS MD-11 that crashed shortly after takeoff, killing the crew and several people on the ground. Investigators noted that the left engine detached soon after the plane took off, leading to a devastating fire.
Footage revealed the engine separation just before impact, with findings indicating structural fractures in the engine mounts that may have contributed to the catastrophe. Subsequent to the crash, UPS grounded its MD-11 aircraft, and the FAA ordered thorough inspections and necessary repairs.
In a separate incident near Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport, another small propeller plane managed to land in a field without injuries to its two occupants.
