MIAMI — Amazon is cooperating with federal and local authorities after a cargo plane operating for Amazon Air crashed while landing at Miami International Airport, killing at least five people and injuring five others.
The Boeing 767-300, operating as Prime Air Flight 7598 and flown by contract carrier 21 Air, overran a runway shortly before 2 p.m. Sunday after arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, officials said. The aircraft crossed beyond the runway, struck multiple vehicles on the ground and caught fire before coming to rest in an area adjacent to the airport.
Five people were killed in the crash, while five others were injured. Three of the injured were reported to be in critical condition, while two others were transported to hospitals with less severe injuries. Authorities had not immediately identified the victims or determined whether those killed were aboard the aircraft or on the ground.
Emergency Crews Confront Major Crash Scene
The crash created a complex emergency response as firefighters and rescue personnel worked through heavy smoke, flames and a reported fuel leak.
More than 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the scene. Officials said several people became trapped inside vehicles struck by the aircraft, requiring specialized rescue crews to remove them. The pilot and co-pilot were also initially trapped inside the cockpit, according to emergency officials.
Authorities urged residents and motorists to stay away from the area while emergency crews secured the crash site and worked to control the fuel leak.
The incident also temporarily disrupted operations at one of the nation’s busiest airports. The Federal Aviation Administration imposed a ground stop as emergency responders assessed the scene, while airport operations were halted for several hours. Travelers faced significant delays and cancellations as authorities worked to restore normal service.
Federal Investigators Search for Cause
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation, while the Federal Aviation Administration is also examining the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Investigators are expected to examine a wide range of factors, including the aircraft’s approach and landing, weather and wind conditions, runway conditions, mechanical systems and the point at which the aircraft touched down. Officials have cautioned that it is too early to draw conclusions about what caused the plane to leave the runway.
The aircraft was a 32-year-old Boeing 767 that had previously operated as a passenger aircraft before being converted for cargo service, according to aviation tracking information. The plane was being operated by 21 Air on behalf of Amazon Air.
Amazon Pledges Cooperation
Amazon confirmed that an aircraft operating for Amazon Air was involved in the crash and said the company was working closely with authorities to determine what happened.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said the company’s immediate priority was the safety and care of those affected, while expressing condolences to the families and loved ones of the five people who died.
The investigation is expected to continue as federal officials document the crash site, examine the aircraft and gather information from witnesses and other sources.
For now, the focus remains on the victims, the injured and their families, while investigators work to establish the precise sequence of events that led the cargo aircraft to overrun the runway and strike vehicles near Miami International Airport.
