Amazon cargo plane veers off runway at Miami airport, killing 5 and injuring 5 others
A cargo aircraft operating for Amazon crashed through a runway barrier and into nearby traffic at Miami International Airport on Sunday afternoon, killing five people and injuring five others, according to fire and sheriff officials.
The Boeing 767, operated by the cargo carrier 21 Air, was arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it failed to stop on runway 30, which stretches more than 9,000 feet. The jet left the pavement at nearly 130 miles per hour, according to flight tracking data from Flightradar24, tore through fencing and struck multiple vehicles before erupting in flames.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Raied “Ray” Jadallah said at an evening news conference that three of the injured were in critical condition and had been taken to a trauma center. Two others were hospitalized locally. Some victims who had been trapped inside the vehicles struck by the aircraft had to be freed by emergency crews.
“Guys, the plane’s on fire. Plane’s on fire. Put your game faces on,” a first responder said in radio traffic captured by Broadcastify. Responders later reported that both pilots had been removed from the aircraft and were receiving medical care.
A massive plume of black smoke rose above the airport as more than 60 fire and rescue units arrived to find heavy flames and smoke, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said in an update on X. Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said there was no immediate indication of a continuing threat to public safety.
The cause of the runway overrun remains under investigation. Air traffic control audio reviewed by CNN showed that the pilots did not declare an emergency before the landing attempt. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have opened inquiries, with an NTSB team en route to the scene to determine the probable cause.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said in a statement that the company was “heartbroken” over the loss of life. “Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss.” The statement noted that 21 Air operated the aircraft and said Amazon was cooperating fully with authorities.
21 Air, which has an operations center in Miami, provides cargo services for Amazon and DHL using Boeing 767 aircraft. CNN has reached out to the airline for comment.
An inspection of the runway found no aircraft parts or debris left on the pavement, but the plane damaged navigational equipment after leaving the runway, according to officials. The FAA lifted a ground stop for arrivals around 5 p.m. ET, but flights into Miami were expected to face delays into Monday because of the disabled aircraft.
The jet involved was 32 years old and was one of more than 100 cargo planes in the Amazon Air fleet, which includes Boeing 737, Boeing 767 and Airbus A330 aircraft. Amazon Air operates more than 250 daily flights to move everything from flowers and parcels to dry ice and perishable medicines.
Runway excursions, in which an aircraft departs the usable runway surface, are among the most common aviation incidents worldwide, according to International Air Transport Association data. Airports such as Miami International maintain designated safety areas beyond runway ends to reduce the impact of such overruns, though the severity of this crash underscores how little protection those buffers can offer when a fully loaded freighter leaves the runway at high speed.
The identities of the victims have not yet been released. The NTSB is expected to provide further updates as investigators gather cockpit recordings, flight data and maintenance records.
This story has been updated with additional information. CNN’s Sarah Dewberry, Amanda Jackson, Nayeli Jaramillo-Plata and Auzinea Bacon contributed to this report.