The Miami Amazon cargo plane crash killed at least five people after an Amazon Prime Air freighter overran a runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday.
Prime Air Flight 7598 crossed the end of a diagonal runway shortly before 2 p.m. local time. The Boeing 767-300 then struck several vehicles near the airport before coming to a stop.
Five other people suffered injuries. Three remained in critical condition, according to Miami-Dade Fire Chief Ray Jadallah.
Plane Hits Vehicles Near Airport
The aircraft was operated by 21 Air on behalf of Amazon. It had flown from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Miami.
After leaving the runway, the plane hit multiple vehicles on the ground. The impact created a complex rescue operation because several people became trapped.
The pilot and co-pilot were also trapped inside the aircraft. Authorities initially declined to identify those who died.
Emergency Crews Rush to Crash Site
More than 60 rescue units and about 200 emergency personnel responded to the scene.
Firefighters battled flames and dealt with an ongoing fuel leak from the aircraft. Crews also searched the surrounding area for people who needed assistance.
The crash forced the airport to halt flight operations temporarily. However, authorities reopened two of the airport’s four runways later on Sunday.
Boeing 767 Was 32 Years Old
The aircraft was a Boeing 767-300 freighter operated by 21 Air for Amazon Prime Air.
According to flight-tracking data, the plane was traveling at about 112 knots, or roughly 129 mph, when it left the usable runway.
The aircraft was about 32 years old. It previously operated as a passenger aircraft before being converted for cargo service.
NTSB Leads Crash Investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the crash.
NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy is leading the investigative team. The agency is expected to provide more information as investigators examine the aircraft, runway and other evidence.
The Federal Aviation Administration is also involved in the investigation. At this stage, authorities have not established what caused the plane to overrun the runway.
Amazon Offers Support to Victims
Amazon said it was working closely with local authorities to understand what happened.
The company also said the safety and well-being of everyone affected remained its top priority.
Meanwhile, 21 Air and Boeing have said they will cooperate with government investigators as the inquiry continues.
Miami Airport Resumes Operations
The crash caused significant disruption at one of the United States’ major aviation hubs.
The airport initially stopped all flight activity while emergency teams responded. Some runway operations later resumed, although travelers faced delays and other disruptions.
Authorities continued managing the crash scene while investigators began examining the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Previous Amazon-Related Fatal Crash
Sunday’s disaster is not the first fatal crash involving an aircraft operating for Amazon Prime Air.
In February 2019, Atlas Air Flight 3591, a Boeing 767-300 freighter operating on behalf of Amazon, crashed into Trinity Bay in Texas while flying from Miami to Houston.
All three people aboard that aircraft died.
The latest Miami Amazon cargo plane crash has once again drawn attention to cargo aviation safety as investigators work to determine exactly what caused the latest accident.
