Amazon Cargo Plane Crash in Miami Results in Five Fatalities and Injuries

First responders were heard in audio recordings responding to a fire after an Amazon cargo plane overshot a runway at Miami International Airport and collided with vehicles on a roadway, resulting in five fatalities and five injuries. Flight 7598 was landing from San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it overran the runway around 2 PM on Sunday, according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. Fire Chief Raied Jadallah stated that firefighters arrived within 30 seconds of the emergency call and found individuals trapped in their vehicles. The Boeing 767-3000 was on fire upon their arrival, with heavy flames and smoke visible. A firefighter was recorded on emergency dispatch stating, 'The plane is on fire. The plane is on fire.' Firefighters struggled to get hoses close enough to the plane due to the left engine still running, which posed a danger to their efforts. The pilots indicated they could not shut off the engine, requiring firefighters to flood it with water. Images from NBC Miami showed the Amazon-branded plane near a building, with smoke rising from it. Five individuals were confirmed dead, while three others were reported in critical condition at a local trauma center, and two others were transported with unspecified injuries. The deceased and injured have not yet been identified. Flight data indicated that the cargo flight was traveling at 129 mph when it exited the runway amid thunderstorms and gusting winds, coming to rest near a parking lot servicing an Amazon warehouse. Rohan Ellis, a student pilot nearby, described the vehicles as 'mangled.' One person was trapped under a vehicle and required specialized rescue personnel for extraction. A spokesperson for the airport confirmed that the plane overran the runway and is disabled at the northwest end of the airport. The cause of the runway overrun remains unclear. Robert A. Clifford, an aviation law expert, suggested it may be a 'classic tailwind landing mistake,' where a pilot lands with a tailwind instead of a headwind, leading to excessive speed and insufficient braking distance. He noted that Miami's weather reports indicated tailwinds of 20 to 30 knots during the incident. Automatic Dependent Surveillance data showed the plane touched down at approximately 167 knots (192 mph) and exited the runway at over 120 mph. Clifford emphasized the impact of a 300,000-pound aircraft colliding with highway vehicles at such speeds. Investigators will examine the pilot's decision to land under those conditions, as well as the performance of the engines and whether reverse thrusters were deployed. Pablo Rojas, an aviation attorney, highlighted the complexity of landing at an international airport, emphasizing the need for communication between pilots and air traffic control regarding weather conditions. FAA spokeswoman Hannah Walden confirmed that Miami International Airport's runways lack an Engineered Materials Arresting System, which is designed to safely stop overshooting planes. Although the FAA recommends this system, it is not mandated. Following the crash, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a ground stop at the airport, advising travelers to expect delays and cancellations. Miami International Airport has since reopened two of its four runways, but about 250 flights were delayed late Sunday afternoon, according to FlightAware. Amazon expressed condolences for the loss of life and stated it is cooperating with local authorities and investigators. 21 Air CEO Keith Winters expressed devastation over the incident and affirmed the company's cooperation with federal investigators. Investigators from both the FAA and NTSB are on-site, with an NTSB news conference scheduled for Monday.