At least five people were killed and five others injured Sunday when an Amazon-contracted cargo plane overran a runway at Miami International Airport, crossed beyond the airfield and struck multiple vehicles before catching fire.
The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft as Prime Air Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-300 operated by 21 Air for Amazon. It had arrived from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and overran the runway while landing at approximately 2 p.m. Eastern time on September 6.
Three of the injured were taken to a trauma center in critical condition. Two others were transported with less severe injuries, Miami-Dade County officials said. Authorities had not released the names of the dead or injured as of Sunday evening, and they had not publicly established whether those killed were aboard the aircraft or in vehicles on the ground.
The aircraft crossed beyond the runway and struck vehicles
The plane continued beyond the runway, crossed a nearby road and hit several vehicles, according to accounts from The Associated Press and Reuters.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said crews arrived to find the aircraft burning and producing heavy smoke. More than 60 rescue units and approximately 200 personnel responded to a scene complicated by fire, damaged vehicles and leaking fuel.
Firefighters used foam and specialized airport equipment while conducting searches in the aircraft and across the impact area. The pilot and copilot were initially trapped in the cockpit, according to local officials, but crews reached them during the response. Authorities did not immediately provide a complete breakdown of which survivors had been aboard the plane.
Airport operations partially resumed Sunday evening
The FAA issued a ground stop after the crash, temporarily halting departures and arrivals at one of the country’s busiest international airports. Flights bound for Miami were delayed, canceled or diverted as emergency crews secured the scene.
Two of the airport’s four runways had reopened by Sunday evening, Miami-Dade Aviation Department communications director Greg Chin told CBS News Miami. Significant delays remained, and travelers were advised to check directly with their airlines before going to the airport.
The partial reopening did not mean the investigation area had been cleared. The damaged aircraft and surrounding ground remained an active emergency and investigative scene.
The NTSB is leading the investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending an investigative team led by Chair Jennifer Homendy to Miami. The FAA is also investigating, while local agencies are responsible for the immediate emergency response and death investigation.
The central question is why the aircraft could not stop within the runway. Investigators are expected to examine flight-data and cockpit-voice recorders, the aircraft’s systems, its approach and touchdown, runway conditions, weather data, maintenance records and crew actions.
Thunderstorms and strong wind gusts were reported in the area around the time of the accident, according to AP. However, authorities have not said weather caused or contributed to the overrun. No mechanical failure, pilot error or other cause had been established Sunday night.
A major aviation investigation can take months or longer. Early factual reports describe what happened, but conclusions about responsibility generally come only after investigators analyze physical evidence, recordings, maintenance documents and operational data.
What is known about the flight and operator
Amazon confirmed that the aircraft was operating within its air-cargo network and said it was working with local authorities. Prime Air uses contracted carriers to move packages; in this case, the flight was operated by North Carolina-based 21 Air rather than directly by Amazon.
The Boeing 767 was arriving from Puerto Rico when the overrun occurred. AP reported that the aircraft was approximately 32 years old and had previously flown as a passenger jet before being converted for cargo service in 2015. An aircraft’s age alone does not establish the cause of an accident, and investigators had announced no connection between its service history and Sunday’s crash.
What remains unknown
Officials had not identified the victims, specified where each victim was located, or explained why the jet left the runway. The condition of everyone who had been inside the aircraft also had not been fully detailed publicly.
The casualty count and operational impact could be updated as authorities complete searches and hospitals provide new information. For now, the confirmed toll stands at least five dead and five injured, three of them critically.
The next substantial answers are expected to come from the NTSB’s on-scene work and an initial briefing after investigators examine the aircraft, runway and available recordings. Until then, officials are urging the public to avoid speculation while families are notified and the evidence is secured.
