A tense moment unfolded at Kentucky’s Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday when a UPS cargo jet was forced to abort its landing to evade a potential collision with another aircraft on the runway. This incident recalls a tragic crash that occurred at the same location just months prior.
Audio recordings reveal an air traffic controller’s urgent call, “What are you doing?” as reported by FOX 43. This dramatic exchange occurred as the Boeing 767, operating as UPS flight 1303, was en route from Atlanta. The aircraft was directed to execute a go-around maneuver after a smaller plane unexpectedly moved onto the runway.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) clarified that the UPS jet was commanded to initiate a go-around after another aircraft, identified as Skylab 25, mistakenly entered the runway space without clearance. Despite the near-miss, the FAA confirmed that the necessary separation between the two planes was maintained, averting any immediate danger.
The audio captures the gravity of the situation, with the air traffic controller urgently telling Skylab 25 to halt its movement while simultaneously instructing the UPS flight to circle back safely. This quick action ensured that a potentially hazardous situation was swiftly managed.
The incident involved a UPS Boeing 767, similar to the aircraft captured in the accompanying image, underscoring the critical need for vigilance and precise communication at busy airports. (Photo Credit: Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
A UPS Boeing 767 cargo plane approaches for landing. A similar aircraft was involved in a near-miss incident at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, according to reports. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
“Two-Five, stop!” the controller yelled, according to FOX 43. “SkyLab Two-Five, what are you doing?”
A UPS spokesperson told WHAS11 the aircraft “safely conducted a go around” during its approach and that there was no operational impact or injuries.
UPS spokesperson Michelle Polk said the maneuver, in which a plane discontinues its descent and circles back for another landing attempt, was carried out in line with standard procedure.
“Following standard procedures, a UPS aircraft safely conducted a go-around during its approach at the direction of air traffic control. There was no operational impact,” UPS said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 shows the aircraft descending to around 500 feet before climbing back to approximately 1,500 feet within a short span, FOX 43 reported.
Louisville’s UPS Worldport is the company’s largest package handling center in the world. The 5.2 million-square-foot hub serves as the center of UPS’ global air network.
UPS jets are parked at the Worldport package sorting complex at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport Nov. 6, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (Darron Cummings/AP)
The close call comes just months after a UPS cargo crash at the same airport that killed 15 people.
In November 2025, a UPS MD-11 crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all three crew members and 12 people on the ground. National Transportation Safety Board investigators said the plane’s left engine separated shortly after takeoff and caught fire. The aircraft reached only about 30 feet above ground before crashing.
The NTSB released photos of the UPS plane crash on Nov. 5 in Kentucky. (NTSB)
Surveillance footage showed the engine detaching from the wing before impact. Investigators found structural cracks in the engine mount that likely led to failure.
UPS grounded its fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft after the crash, while the FAA ordered inspections and repairs for the model.
In a separate incident Thursday near Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, a small propeller plane landed in a field. Both people aboard were uninjured, according to WKYT.
