Tragic Amazon Cargo Plane Crash at Miami Airport Leaves Five Dead and Injures Five Others

An Amazon Prime Air cargo plane suffered a fatal crash on Sunday after overrunning a runway while landing at Miami International Airport, resulting in at least five deaths and five injuries, according to officials. Prime Air Flight 7598, which was a Boeing 767-300 operated by cargo carrier 21 Air on behalf of Amazon, veered off the diagonal runway just prior to 2pm local time, subsequently striking multiple ground vehicles. The aircraft had originated from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Miami-Dade fire chief Ray Jadallah confirmed that five individuals sustained injuries, with three currently in critical condition. Emergency responders found at least two people trapped within vehicles impacted by the jet, while both the pilot and co-pilot were trapped inside the aircraft wreckage. Authorities have not yet publicly identified the victims. Miami-Dade fire rescue deployed over 60 rescue units and approximately 200 emergency personnel to the scene, where crews continued managing an active fuel leak late into Sunday afternoon.

Operations at the airport were temporarily suspended following the incident, though two out of four runways resumed service by Sunday evening. Data from Flightradar24 indicated that the 32-year-old freighter, which previously served as a passenger plane for multiple airlines prior to its cargo conversion, was traveling at 207km/h when it exited the usable runway. Reuters photographs depicted the aircraft resting with its nose on the ground and its tail elevated, alongside scorch marks visible on the right side.

Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated that the organization is actively cooperating with authorities to determine the cause of the incident. "Our absolute priority is the safety, well-being and care of everyone involved," Ms Nantel expressed. The National Transportation Safety Board dispatched an investigation team headed by chairwoman Jennifer Homendy, while Boeing and 21 Air pledged their full support to the governmental inquiries. In a statement, 21 Air noted, "We are devastated by the accident involving one of our aircraft in Miami today. Our deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives." This incident follows a previous fatal accident involving an Amazon Prime Air flight in February 2019, when Atlas Air Flight 3591 crashed into Trinity Bay, Texas, causing the deaths of all three people on board.