MIAMI — An Amazon cargo plane ran off the runway Sunday afternoon while attempting to land at Miami International Airport, killing five people and injuring five others in a devastating collision that sent thick black smoke billowing across the airfield.
The aircraft, a Boeing 767-300 freighter operated on behalf of Amazon Air by charter carrier 21 Air, veered off runway pavement shortly before 2:00 p.m. local time following an inbound flight from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. After skidding past the perimeter boundary, the jet slammed into multiple ground vehicles and burst into flames.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and local emergency officials confirmed five fatalities at the scene. Five additional victims were rushed to area trauma centers, with three patients reported in critical condition. Authorities are actively working to confirm whether all deceased victims were occupants of the ground vehicles struck during the rollout or crew members aboard the aircraft.
First responders encountered an intense blaze upon arrival, with the twin-engine jet coming to rest nose-down in grass near perimeter fences. Rescue crews faced hazardous conditions as aviation fuel ignited, trapping occupants inside crumpled vehicles while emergency teams worked to extract the flight crew from the cockpit.
Boeing 767 Skids Off Runway and Strikes Ground Vehicles
Flight-tracking records indicate that Flight 7598 departed runway heading at an estimated groundspeed of approximately 112 knots (129 mph) before crossing safety overrun zones. The aircraft plowed through airport service access lanes, colliding with several ground support vehicles before coming to an abrupt halt.
More than 60 emergency response units and approximately 200 rescue personnel mobilized to contain the fire and secure the crash zone. Firefighters quickly deployed specialized foam trucks to suppress the burning jet fuel and prevent additional explosions along nearby cargo staging areas.
The airframe involved was a 32-year-old Boeing 767-300 converted freighter originally built for commercial passenger service. Federal investigators will scrutinize the complete maintenance logs, conversion history, and airworthiness directives associated with the aircraft as part of their comprehensive inquiry.
NTSB and FAA Launch Comprehensive Aviation Probe
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched a full go-team investigation led by NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy, who is traveling to Miami alongside technical specialists. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Boeing, and 21 Air have all confirmed full cooperation with federal investigators.
“Our investigative team will examine every factor behind this tragic accident, from aircraft deceleration systems and touchdown point to environmental and runway conditions,” federal officials stated.
Preliminary weather observations in the Miami area at the time of the crash noted passing convective thunderstorms and gusty winds, though investigators cautioned that it is too early to determine if meteorological conditions contributed to the overrun. Analysts will recover and review the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) to assess approach speed, flap settings, braking performance, and reverse thruster deployment.
Aviation safety specialists are also examining runway safety infrastructure at Miami International Airport, including the presence and deployment of Engineered Material Arresting Systems (EMAS)—crushable concrete beds designed to safely decelerate runaway aircraft during overruns.
Major Flight Disruptions at Miami International Airport
The crash triggered an immediate ground stop across Miami International Airport, halting all departures and arrivals for several hours. More than 160 flights were canceled and over 325 flights suffered severe delays as authorities secured the wreckage and rerouted traffic to parallel runways.
Miami International Airport represents one of the nation’s foremost hubs for international freight and express logistics. The temporary closure significantly disrupted perishable goods and express cargo logistics connecting Latin America and the Caribbean with the United States mainland.
In a statement released Sunday evening, Amazon expressed profound sorrow over the incident: “We are deeply concerned by the tragic event at Miami International Airport and extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and to the injured. We are working closely with emergency responders and federal authorities in their investigation.”
Federal investigators are expected to remain on-site in Miami for several days conducting initial examinations, with a preliminary factual report anticipated in the coming weeks.