Amazon suspends partnership with 21 Air following fatal cargo plane crash

MIAMI (AP) — Amazon announced on Sunday that it has suspended its partnership with 21 Air after one of the cargo carrier's planes, which was loaded with Amazon packages, careened off a Miami runway last week, resulting in the deaths of five people. The Boeing 767 aircraft came in fast on September 6 and traveled approximately 1,300 feet (396 meters) past the end of the runway, colliding with a van carrying workers from a plane cleaning company. All five fatalities were occupants of the van, and five others sustained injuries. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is conducting an investigation into the incident, examining factors that may have contributed to the crash, including the actions of the pilots and air traffic controllers, the jet's maintenance history, the airline's practices, and the weather conditions at the time. Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated, "After the tragic incident last weekend, we've spent time supporting the investigation and reviewing some of the surrounding circumstances, and we've decided to pause our operations with 21 Air, the operator of Flight 7598. We'll continue working to support the investigation and everyone affected." 21 Air, which has been transporting packages for Amazon since 2024, also provides services for DHL, which has not yet commented on its future plans with the carrier. In a statement, 21 Air expressed its commitment to supporting those impacted by the accident and its confidence in its safety policies, procedures, and training. Flight information released by the NTSB on September 9 indicated that one of the pilots had warned the other about their speed as they approached for landing. The plane was reported to be unsteady during its approach and did not land until it was well beyond the designated touchdown area, which limited its stopping distance. A tailwind may have contributed to the plane's extended travel. Cockpit audio recordings revealed a series of automated warnings regarding descent speed and approaching terrain, although the full transcript of the cockpit conversation will not be made available until later in the investigation. The 32-year-old Boeing aircraft was originally designed for passenger transport and had been in service with various airlines in foreign countries for over two decades before being converted to a cargo plane in 2015, according to flight-tracking site Flightradar24.