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UPS plane ordered by controller to abort landing after jet approached runway: "What are you doing?"

Updated on: April 17, 2026 / 10:05 AM EDT / CBS News

UPS plane ordered by controller to abort landing after jet approached runway: "What are you doing?"

TL;DR

  • A UPS plane had to abort its landing at Louisville International Airport.
  • The incident occurred because a Labcorp aircraft approached the runway while the UPS plane was landing.
  • The Labcorp pilot was instructed to hold short of the runway but moved past the hold short bars, activating alarms.
  • Air traffic control ordered the Labcorp plane to stop and the UPS plane to perform a go-around.
  • Audio recordings captured a tense exchange between the air traffic controller and the Labcorp pilot.
  • UPS stated its pilot acted according to procedures and there was no operational impact.
  • The FAA confirmed that the UPS and Labcorp planes maintained required separation.
  • The incident occurred about five months after a deadly UPS cargo plane crash at the same airport.