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The crash claimed five lives and left five others injured, three of them critically, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Raied “Ray” Jadallah said at a news conference on Sunday evening. Emergency crews arrived within 30 seconds of the alert and found the aircraft on fire after it had struck several vehicles near the airport perimeter. At least two individuals were trapped in those vehicles while the pilot and co-pilot remained pinned inside the cockpit, according to Jadallah. Firefighters worked to contain a fuel leak from the wreckage as more than 60 units responded to the scene.
Data from Flightradar24 showed the Boeing 767 was moving at nearly 130 miles per hour when it departed the end of the 9,000-foot runway. The aircraft, operating as Prime Air Flight 7598 for Amazon, did not issue an emergency declaration prior to landing, a review of air traffic control recordings indicated. It came to rest tipped forward onto its nose after crossing into an adjacent area and colliding with ground vehicles.
The plane had flown from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, a Reuters dispatch noted. Cargo operator 21 Air, which maintains its operations center in Miami and flies Boeing 767s on behalf of Amazon and DHL, was responsible for the flight, an Amazon spokesperson confirmed in a statement. The 32-year-old aircraft was converted from passenger to freighter configuration in 2015, according to aviation tracking records.
Miami International Airport shut down all runways and taxiways following the accident around 2 p.m. local time, leading to widespread flight delays and cancellations across the region. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy advised travelers to anticipate significant disruptions at the busy hub. By Sunday evening two of the four runways had reopened even as investigations continued, a Nikkei Asia report stated.
Amazon expressed condolences for the victims in a statement released shortly after the crash. “Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss,” spokesperson Kelly Nantel said. The company added that it was cooperating fully with authorities to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Federal agencies have mobilized to examine the cause of the runway overrun. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed it would lead the investigation while the National Transportation Safety Board dispatched a team headed by Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy to the site. Officials have yet to determine why the jet was unable to stop on the available pavement.
