An Amazon cargo plane overran a runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday, killing at least five people. The aircraft, arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, struck multiple vehicles and burst into flames around 2 p.m. local time.
Casualties and Rescue Efforts
Miami-Dade County officials confirmed five fatalities, with three individuals in critical condition and two others hospitalized with less severe injuries. It has not yet been determined whether the deceased were on board the aircraft or in the vehicles struck during the incident. Fire Chief Ray Jadallah reported that the pilot and copilot were trapped in the cockpit, while other victims were pinned inside cars near the runway.
Aircraft History and Airport Disruption
The flight was operated by 21 Air, a North Carolina-based carrier, using a 32-year-old Boeing 767. Originally a passenger jet, the aircraft was converted for cargo use in 2015. The crash caused significant disruption at the major travel hub, with approximately 250 flights delayed on Sunday afternoon as emergency crews managed a persistent fuel leak at the scene.
Official Investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation, led by Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy. In a statement, Amazon expressed heartbreak over the loss of life and committed to full cooperation with federal investigators to determine the cause of the disaster.
