Who Operated the Amazon Cargo Plane? 21 Air's Role in Amazon Air Explained After Miami Crash

The crash of an Amazon-branded Boeing 767 involved in the fatal crash at Miami International Airport has raised urgent questions about who was operating the aircraft. While the plane carried Amazon markings, it was not flown directly by the company.

Flight 7598 was operated by 21 Air, LLC, a US cargo airline contracted to provide services within Amazon's air freight network.

Local officials confirmed that at least five people were killed and five others injured, three critically. The cause of the accident has not yet been determined.

Who Is 21 Air?

21 Air is an all-cargo airline headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina. The US carrier operates Boeing 767 freighters for customers requiring domestic and international cargo transportation.

The company provides contracted flying services for logistics businesses, including Amazon.

Although the aircraft involved in the Miami crash carried Amazon branding and was described by authorities as a Prime Air flight, 21 Air was the certificated operator conducting the journey.

Amazon officially calls its cargo network Amazon Air. Prime Air is also the name used for Amazon's separate drone-delivery programme, although some cargo aircraft continue to carry Prime Air markings.

Cargo aircraft frequently display the colours and branding of the company whose goods they transport, even when another airline supplies the flight crew and operates the service under its own certificate.

Amazon works with contracted airlines to transport packages between regional hubs. This arrangement allows the company to maintain an extensive air network without directly operating every aircraft carrying its branding.

What Happened to Flight 7598?

The Boeing 767-300 freighter was arriving in Miami from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The aircraft overran Runway 30 at approximately 2pm local time on Sunday, 6 September 2026, and continued beyond the runway before striking several vehicles. Images from the scene showed the aircraft damaged near the airport boundary as emergency crews responded to fire and smoke.

Both pilots were initially trapped inside the aircraft. Officials said emergency crews also rescued people from vehicles struck by the plane.

Miami International Airport temporarily suspended operations before later reopening two of its four runways. The disruption resulted in cancellations and delays while emergency teams secured the scene and dealt with a fuel leak.

Amazon and 21 Air expressed condolences and said they were cooperating with investigators.

Why the Aircraft's Operator Matters

Identifying the operator is important because 21 Air's flight records, crew procedures and aircraft documentation will form part of the investigation.

However, the company's role does not imply responsibility. Investigators have not yet attributed the crash to mechanical failure, pilot action, weather conditions or runway issues.

The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, while the Federal Aviation Administration is also involved. Investigators may examine flight-recorder data, crew communications, the aircraft's maintenance history, its approach and landing performance, runway conditions and air-traffic-control information.

Relevant records from Amazon and other organisations involved in the flight may also be reviewed if investigators consider them necessary.

What Happens Next?

A preliminary report may provide a factual outline of the accident, but it is unlikely to deliver an immediate conclusion about its cause.

A final NTSB investigation can take months or longer. Its purpose is to determine the probable cause and recommend measures intended to prevent similar accidents, rather than decide criminal or civil liability.

For now, the clearest distinction is that Amazon provided the cargo network and branding, while 21 Air operated Flight 7598. Any conclusion about responsibility must wait until investigators complete their work.