5 Killed as Amazon Air Cargo Plane Overruns Runway and Hits Vehicles at Miami Airport
At least five people have been killed and five others injured after an Amazon Air cargo plane overran the runway during a landing attempt at Miami International Airport (MIA).
The aircraft, a Boeing 767-300 freighter carrying Amazon Prime Air livery and operated by charter carrier 21 Air as Flight 7598, was arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Authorities report the jet exited the end of the usable runway at approximately 112 knots before crashing into multiple vehicles in a surrounding area and erupting into flames.
Incident Details and Rescue Operations
Emergency personnel rushed to the scene shortly before 2:00 p.m. local time following reports of heavy smoke and active fires.
- Ground Casualties: Officials confirmed that five fatalities occurred among individuals trapped in ground vehicles struck by the plane.
- Crew Status: Both pilots survived but were temporarily trapped inside the damaged cockpit before rescue crews extracted them.
- Critical Care: Three of the five injured victims were transported to local trauma centers in critical condition.
- Emergency Response: Over 60 rescue units and nearly 200 firefighters contained the blaze and managed a major fuel leak.
Aviation Safety Investigations and Flight Disruptions
The crash forced immediate operational halts at Miami International Airport, prompting a ground stop that resulted in more than 160 flight cancellations and hundreds of delays during a busy holiday travel window.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) arrived on site to determine the precise cause of the overrun. Early technical inquiries are reviewing local weather conditions—including reports of severe thunderstorms and wind gusts—alongside landing speed and braking parameters.
Amazon Air spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated that the company is working closely with local authorities and federal safety inspectors, emphasizing that its primary focus remains supporting the victims' families and affected personnel.
