Five people died when an Amazon-branded cargo plane overran a runway at Miami International Airport on a Sunday, striking vehicles on the ground, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. The Boeing 767-300 operated by 21 Air had just returned from San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it failed to stop on landing, plunging through airport infrastructure and striking both a contract cleaning van and a passenger SUV.
NTSB Investigates Runway Overrun and Ground Impact
Federal investigators have recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from the aircraft following the crash, according to National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy. Speaking at a Monday news conference, Homendy stated that the Boeing 767-300 had completed two prior flights that day—flying from Cincinnati to Miami, then Miami to San Juan—before executing its final landing back in Miami. The aircraft overran the runway, struck navigational aids and equipment, and plowed into a white Ford van owned by Professional Ocean Service Corporation, a contract cleaning company for airlines. The van was carrying an aircraft cleaning crew inside the airport perimeter. The aircraft then breached a perimeter fence and struck a Toyota SUV driving on Northwest 67th Avenue, according to NTSB findings. The plane finally came to rest in a grass area near a fence line separating an area where Tesla robotaxis were stationed, Homendy said.
Casualties Among Cleaning Crew and Driver
All five fatalities occurred inside the ground vehicles struck by the landing cargo jet, according to federal officials. Seven people were inside the contract cleaning van when it was struck, Homendy said, describing the vehicle as having been “torn apart” by the impact. Five additional people sustained injuries in the disaster. Two crew members—a pilot and a co-pilot—were on board the cargo plane at the time of the overrun, according to Homendy. Miami-Dade Fire Chief Raied Jadallah reported Sunday that both flight crew members were initially trapped inside the plane. Cellphone video obtained by NBC South Florida showed a crew member jumping from the aircraft following the crash, while subsequent photographs showed a crew member being transported on a gurney.
Airline and Corporate Statements on the Disaster
Amazon and the operating carrier both issued public statements expressing condolences following the fatal accident. Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated that the company was heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in the incident involving the flight operated by 21 Air. Keith Winters, CEO of 21 Air, published a message on the airline’s website confirming that the company is fully cooperating with federal investigators and offering condolences to the families of the victims. NTSB officials indicated that investigators will remain on the scene in Miami for at least a week to examine air traffic control records, aircraft performance data, and environmental factors including jet fuel remediation before releasing further operational conclusions.
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