MIAMI (AP) — Five individuals died when an Amazon cargo jet ran off a runway at Miami International Airport, according to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy. The victims were inside a van carrying seven people from a cleaning company, while an SUV was struck outside airport property. Homendy described the crash scene as severely damaged, noting tire marks from the runway into the grass, a destroyed van, torn fencing, navigational equipment, and a crushed SUV. The van was owned by Professional Ocean Service Corp., an airline cleaning contractor.
The NTSB is investigating whether the Boeing 767 touched down too late to stop safely. Video footage indicates the aircraft remained airborne for a significant distance before landing. Investigators will assess the landing location, speed, braking, weather conditions, and the aircraft's mechanical status. The cargo jet had flown from Cincinnati to Miami and was returning to Miami when it overran the runway around 2 p.m., crossing a road used by warehouse workers and businesses nearby.
In addition to the five fatalities, three individuals suffered critical injuries, and two others were hospitalized with less severe injuries. The crash produced thick black smoke and trapped the pilot and co-pilot in the cockpit, as well as some occupants in vehicles. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Ray Jadallah reported that crews had to extricate a person trapped under a vehicle.
Experts noted that the typical landing zone for a plane is within the first 3,000 feet (914 meters) of a runway. If the cargo jet landed beyond that area, it should have aborted the landing. Weather conditions included strong winds and dark storm clouds, which could have affected the landing. Miami International Airport does not have arresting systems, which are designed to stop planes that overrun runways, but it complies with safety regulations due to a 1,000-foot safety buffer at the end of its runways.
The Prime Air plane came to rest beside a roadway and appeared largely intact despite the fire. The flight was operated by 21 Air, a cargo carrier based in North Carolina, and the 32-year-old Boeing 767 had previously been converted from passenger to cargo use in 2015. The NTSB will investigate the maintenance history of the aircraft, which has had foreign ownership, including by a Russian company.
The crash disrupted operations at Miami International Airport, leading to the closure of two runways and resulting in 160 flight cancellations and over 300 delays on Sunday, with additional cancellations reported on Monday. Amazon expressed condolences for the loss of life and stated it would cooperate with the investigation.