Five people died and five were injured after an Amazon cargo plane overran a Miami airport runway, struck vehicles and caught fire.
Five people were killed and five others injured after an Amazon cargo plane overran a runway at Miami International Airport and crashed into vehicles nearby, triggering a major emergency response.
The Boeing 767-300, operated by 21 Air for Amazon Prime Air, was landing at the airport Sunday afternoon after departing from San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it failed to stop on the runway. The aircraft crossed beyond the airport boundary, struck multiple vehicles and caught fire.
Three of the five injured people were reported to be in critical condition. Authorities had not immediately released the identities of those killed or injured.
Amazon cargo plane crashes at Miami airport
The aircraft was operating as Prime Air Flight 7598 when the crash occurred at approximately 2 p.m. local time.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the Boeing 767 departed Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan before arriving in Miami. Airport officials said the plane overran the airport’s diagonal runway and became disabled at the northwest end of the airport.
The aircraft eventually came to rest after leaving the runway area, with emergency crews responding to a large fire.
More than 200 emergency personnel were involved in the response, according to the Associated Press. Crews also dealt with a fuel leak and an intense fire involving the aircraft.
Plane struck vehicles after leaving runway
The crash created a complex emergency scene because the aircraft traveled beyond the runway and into an area where vehicles were located.
The plane struck several vehicles after overrunning the runway, with emergency officials working to determine the circumstances surrounding those inside the impacted vehicles.
The identities of the five people who died had not been publicly released in initial reports.
The aircraft itself sustained significant damage and caught fire following the crash.
Miami airport operations disrupted
The crash temporarily brought operations at one of the nation’s busiest airports to a halt.
The FAA issued a ground stop after the aircraft became disabled, while airport officials said runways and taxiways were initially closed.
The disruption resulted in widespread delays and cancellations. The Associated Press reported that more than 160 flights were canceled and nearly 325 delayed, while some flights were diverted to Orlando International Airport.
Travelers were urged to check directly with their airlines as airport operations gradually resumed.
NTSB investigates deadly Amazon crash
Federal investigators are now working to determine why the Boeing 767 failed to stop after landing.
The National Transportation Safety Board has sent investigators to Miami to examine the aircraft, runway and surrounding crash site. The FAA is also investigating the incident.
Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft’s performance, landing speed, weather conditions, runway circumstances and the actions of the flight crew.
Initial reports indicated that thunderstorms and strong winds were present in the Miami area around the time of the crash. However, authorities have not determined whether weather played a role, and investigators have not announced a cause.
Amazon responds to fatal crash
Amazon expressed condolences to the victims and said the company was cooperating with investigators.
The cargo aircraft was operated by North Carolina-based 21 Air as part of Amazon’s air-cargo network. The Boeing 767 had previously been used for passenger service before being converted to a freighter.
The investigation is expected to take time as federal authorities reconstruct the final moments of the flight and determine what caused the aircraft to leave the runway.
For now, the deadly crash has left five people dead, five injured and caused major disruption at Miami International Airport as investigators work to determine what went wrong.
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