An Amazon cargo plane skidded off the runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday, leading to a tragic incident that resulted in the loss of five lives and injuries to several individuals as the plane collided with vehicles and caught fire. The aircraft overshot the runway after its arrival from San Juan, Puerto Rico, at approximately 2 p.m. ET. Miami-Dade County officials confirmed the fatalities, with five people losing their lives, three sustaining critical injuries, and two others hospitalized with less severe injuries.
Authorities stated that it was premature to ascertain whether the deceased individuals were onboard the plane or among those in the vehicles struck by the aircraft. The impact caused thick black smoke to rise into the sky, trapping the pilot, copilot, and some occupants in cars. The Miami-Dade Rescue Fire Chief, Ray Jadallah, mentioned that the crash immobilized the pilot and copilot in the cockpit, with one person trapped under a vehicle.
The incident forced a temporary cessation of flights at the bustling airport. Firefighters continued to address a fuel leak on the plane several hours after the accident. Over 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the scene, battling the flames and providing medical assistance to those affected.
The cargo plane, operated by 21 Air, a North Carolina-based cargo carrier, was a 32-year-old Boeing 767 originally designed for passenger transport. It had served multiple airlines for over twenty years before being converted into a cargo aircraft in 2015. The aircraft, identified as a Prime Air plane, came to a halt adjacent to a roadway near two semi-trucks following the crash. Despite the fire, the plane appeared mostly intact, resting on its belly.
FlightAware reported around 250 flight delays at the airport later that Sunday afternoon due to the incident. The National Transportation Safety Board announced the dispatch of a team led by Chair Jennifer Homendy to investigate the crash. Amazon expressed its willingness to collaborate with the investigation, conveying condolences for the lives lost in the tragic event.
Jackson Lee, an electronics shop owner near the crash site, recounted witnessing the aftermath with colleagues, emphasizing the unexpected proximity of the disaster to their location. Lee described the shocking sight of smoke rising near the airport’s perimeter, reflecting on the routine sounds of planes taking off and landing that now carried a different weight.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is currently underway to determine the cause of the fatal accident and provide insights into the sequence of events leading to the tragic outcome.