MIAMI – On Sunday afternoon, a tragic incident unfolded at Miami International Airport when an Amazon cargo jet crashed after overrunning the runway. This accident resulted in the loss of at least five lives and left several others injured as the plane struck vehicles and caught fire.
The Boeing 767 aircraft had just completed its flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it barreled off the runway around 2 p.m. It did not just overrun the runway; the plane crossed a road commonly used by warehouse workers and businesses surrounding the airport, leading to a catastrophic outcome. Among the victims, five people were killed, while three sustained critical injuries, and two others were hospitalized with lesser injuries, according to officials.
As the situation unfolded, the flames and thick smoke engulfing the aircraft made it challenging for rescue teams to access the cockpit, where the pilot and co-pilot were trapped. Emergency crews also had to rescue individuals who were caught under vehicles that were struck by the plane.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is set to investigate the crash, with Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy scheduled to address the press on the matter. Investigators will consider various factors, including whether the plane landed appropriately within the first 3,000 feet of the runway. Experts suggest that if the aircraft landed too far down the runway, the pilots should have aborted the landing and attempted another approach.
Mary Schiavo, a former Inspector General of the Transportation Department and a pilot, noted that video footage indicated the Amazon plane was airborne for an extended period without properly landing. Although it wasn’t raining at the time, strong winds and dark storm clouds were present, which might have contributed to the plane’s difficulty in landing.
The Miami airport lacks the arresting systems that can help stop aircraft that overrun runways, unlike over 120 airports across the nation that have installed such safety measures. These systems have been credited with saving numerous lives during similar incidents.
The crash led to significant disruptions, halting flights for much of the afternoon. Over 200 emergency personnel responded to the scene, battling heavy flames and smoke that were primarily coming from the aircraft’s engine compartment. Firefighters employed specialized foam to extinguish the fire and managed ongoing fuel leaks hours later.
The flight was being operated by 21 Air, a North Carolina-based cargo carrier. The aircraft itself had an extensive history, originally built to carry passengers before being converted for cargo use in 2015. Given its past ownership, which included a Russian company, the NTSB plans to closely examine the plane’s maintenance history as part of the investigation.
The aftermath of the crash saw over 160 flights canceled and nearly 325 delayed, as some planes were diverted to Orlando International Airport, located more than 200 miles north of Miami. Amazon expressed deep sorrow over the incident, stating, “We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today’s incident at Miami International Airport. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss.”
This incident echoes a similar tragedy last year when a UPS plane crashed in Louisville, killing all three pilots and twelve people on the ground.
___
Funk reported from Omaha, Nebraska. Associated Press writers Tim Reynolds in Miami, Rio Yamat in Las Vegas, and Wufei Yu in Phoenix contributed to this report.
