Amazon Plane Crash: At Least Five People Killed After Amazon Cargo Craft Overruns Runway and Smashes Into Cars

At least five people were killed after an Amazon Prime Air cargo plane overran a runway at Miami International Airport and struck multiple vehicles on a nearby road on Sunday, 6 September.

Prime Air Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-300 operated by 21 Air on behalf of Amazon, was arriving from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it overran Miami International Airport's diagonal runway at about 2pm local time, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The aircraft crossed a nearby road and struck multiple vehicles before coming to rest at the northwest end of the airport. The plane caught fire as emergency crews responded to the crash.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said five people had died and five others were injured. Three of those injured were in critical condition, according to officials.

What Happened on the Runway

The FAA said 21 Air Flight 7598 overran the runway after landing at around 2pm. The aircraft had departed from San Juan and was operating as an Amazon Prime Air cargo flight.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Raied 'Ray' Jadallah said the aircraft struck multiple vehicles after leaving the runway. The pilot and co-pilot were trapped inside the aircraft, while emergency crews also found people trapped in vehicles.

More than 60 emergency units and about 200 personnel responded to the crash, according to Reuters. Crews also dealt with a fuel leak as they worked at the scene.

The cause of the runway overrun has not been determined. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the crash, but officials have not established whether weather, mechanical problems, braking or other factors contributed to the accident.

NTSB Investigates Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash, with Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy leading the investigation. The FAA is also involved and has said it will investigate the accident.

Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, flight data, cockpit recordings, runway conditions and other evidence as they work to establish what happened during the landing.

No official cause has been announced. It also remained unclear whether the five people killed were aboard the aircraft or were among those in vehicles struck by the plane.

The aircraft was about 32 years old and had originally operated as a passenger aircraft before being converted into a freighter, according to Reuters. Boeing and 21 Air are co-operating with investigators.

Airport Operations Disrupted

The crash caused major disruption at Miami International Airport, with all runways and taxiways initially closed and a full ground stop imposed.

More than 160 flights were cancelled and nearly 325 were delayed, according to the Associated Press. Some flights were rerouted to Orlando International Airport as officials worked to restore normal operations.

The airport later reopened two of its four runways but continued to warn passengers of disruption. Travellers were advised to check directly with their airlines for the latest flight information.

The FAA continued to report delays at Miami International Airport following the crash, with a traffic management programme affecting arrivals and departures.

The Aircraft And Operator

The aircraft was a Boeing 767-300 cargo plane operating as Prime Air Flight 7598. While the flight was part of Amazon's air cargo network, the aircraft was operated by 21 Air rather than directly by Amazon.

Amazon said it was working closely with authorities and expressed condolences following the crash. The company said it would support the investigation.

21 Air is a US cargo carrier, while Amazon Prime Air is Amazon's air cargo operation. Boeing is also co-operating with investigators as authorities work to establish the cause of the crash.

The investigation remains ongoing, and officials have not established what caused the aircraft to overrun the runway.