MIAMI, Sept. 7 — At least five people are dead and five others injured after an Amazon Prime Air cargo aircraft overran the runway during landing at Miami International Airport on Sunday afternoon, striking multiple vehicles and catching fire.
The Boeing 767-300 cargo aircraft, operating as Prime Air Flight 7598 and flown by cargo airline 21 Air, departed from San Juan, Puerto Rico, earlier in the day. It overran the airport’s diagonal runway at approximately 2 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT) and came to rest disabled at the northwest end of the airport, according to officials.
Rescue Operations and Casualties Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Raied “Ray” Jadallah said during a Sunday evening news conference that three of the five injured are in critical condition and were transported to a trauma center, while two others were taken to a local hospital. Several victims were trapped in vehicles struck by the aircraft and had to be extricated.
The aircraft was traveling at nearly 130 miles per hour when it left the usable portion of the runway, according to Flightradar24 data. It crossed NW 67th Avenue and struck multiple vehicles before catching fire. More than 60 rescue units and approximately 200 personnel responded to the scene. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue reported that crews arrived to find the aircraft engulfed in “heavy flames and smoke.”
Federal Investigation Launched The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it will investigate the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it has launched a “go team” to investigate the runway excursion accident. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy is scheduled to hold a news conference on Monday.
A review of air traffic control audio by CNN showed the pilots did not declare an emergency before the landing. The cause of the runway overrun remains under investigation.
Airport Disruptions and Corporate Response All runways and taxiways at Miami International Airport were closed as of 3 p.m. EDT, and a ground stop was put in effect. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned travelers to expect “significant delays and potential cancellations.” By Sunday evening, two of the airport’s four runways had been reopened.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said the company is still gathering details about the incident. “We’re working closely with local authorities and officials to understand exactly what happened,” Nantel said in a statement. “Right now, our absolute priority is the safety, well-being, and care of everyone involved.”