Amazon Cargo Plane Crash at Miami Airport Kills Five; Investigators Probe Cause
At least five people were killed and five others injured after an Amazon Prime Air cargo aircraft overran a runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday, September 6. Three of the injured were reported to be in critical condition.
The aircraft was Prime Air Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-300 operated by 21 Air on behalf of Amazon. It had arrived from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and overran the runway at around 2 p.m. local time while landing.
After leaving the runway, the plane crossed a nearby road and struck several vehicles before bursting into flames. Emergency crews found people trapped in the aircraft and vehicles, with firefighters also rescuing at least one person who was pinned beneath a vehicle.
The crash produced a massive fire and thick black smoke near the airport’s cargo and warehouse area. The pilot and co-pilot were initially trapped inside the cockpit as rescue teams worked at the scene.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the crash. Investigators are examining whether the aircraft touched down too far along the runway and whether weather conditions, including strong winds and thunderstorms reported around the time, played a role.
Aviation experts have also raised questions about the aircraft’s landing and the airport’s runway safety infrastructure. The investigation is expected to determine whether operational, weather, aircraft or runway-related factors contributed to the overrun.
The accident caused major disruption at Miami International Airport, with all runways temporarily closed. More than 160 flights were canceled and hundreds of others delayed in the immediate aftermath.
Amazon confirmed that the aircraft was part of its Amazon Air operation and said it was working closely with authorities. The company expressed condolences to the families of those killed and said the safety and care of those affected were its priority.
The NTSB is expected to provide further details as investigators examine the wreckage, flight data and cockpit information. The precise cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
