An Amazon cargo plane veered off a runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of at least five individuals as it collided with vehicles and ignited into flames, as confirmed by authorities. The incident occurred around 2 p.m. ET when the plane overshot the runway following its arrival from San Juan, Puerto Rico. According to Miami-Dade County officials speaking at a press briefing, five people lost their lives, with three sustaining critical injuries and two others hospitalized with less severe injuries.
Miami officials stated that it was premature to ascertain whether the deceased individuals were aboard the plane or in the vehicles struck by the plane. The crash caused dense black smoke to rise into the sky, trapping the pilot, copilot, and some car occupants, as per Miami-Dade Rescue Fire Chief Ray Jadallah. Additionally, one person was reportedly trapped beneath a vehicle. The airport experienced flight disruptions for a significant portion of the afternoon due to the incident, with fire crews continuing to address a fuel leak on the aircraft hours after the crash.
Responding to the emergency, over 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units arrived at the scene to find the aircraft ablaze, actively working to douse the flames and attend to the injured. The Prime Air plane came to a stop beside a road near two semi-trucks, observed in images from the location. Despite the fire, the aircraft seemed mostly intact, resting on its underside.
The flight was operated by 21 Air, a cargo carrier headquartered in North Carolina. The Boeing 767, aged 32, initially designed for passenger transport, had served multiple airlines for over two decades before being repurposed as a cargo plane in 2015. Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 provided this information.
FlightAware reported approximately 250 flight delays at the airport on Sunday evening. The National Transportation Safety Board announced the dispatch of a team to Miami, led by Chair Jennifer Homendy, to conduct an investigation. Amazon declared its cooperation with the inquiry in a statement, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of five lives in the incident.
“We’re devastated by the news of today’s tragedy at Miami International Airport,” Amazon conveyed. “Our heartfelt condolences go out to the affected families, loved ones, and all impacted by this tragic event.”
In an email to CBC News, Amazon mentioned its collaboration with local authorities to gather information and comprehend the situation. Witness Jackson Lee, who operates an electronics store near the crash site, recounted going outside with colleagues post-incident and witnessing smoke emanating near the airport perimeters. Lee reflected on the frequency of planes taking off and landing but never anticipated such proximity to a crash.
The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.
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