Amazon Cargo Plane Crash in Miami Kills 5 in Ground Vehicles
Five people were killed and five others injured on Sunday, when an Amazon-branded Boeing 767-300 cargo plane overran a runway at Miami International Airport. According to National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy, the victims on the ground were traveling in a cleaning-crew van and a separate SUV.
The Collision Sequence at Miami International Airport
The fatal incident unfolded as the cargo aircraft landed after a multi-leg journey. According to NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy, the plane had traveled from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Miami, then onward to San Juan, Puerto Rico, before returning to Miami for its final, ill-fated landing. Upon touching down, the Boeing 767-300 overran the runway, striking navigational aids and ground equipment.
The aircraft subsequently struck a white Ford van owned by Professional Ocean Service Corporation, a contract cleaning company for airlines. The van, operating inside the airport perimeter, was transporting a cleaning crew. Seven people were inside the vehicle at the time of the impact. The plane then breached a perimeter fence and struck a Toyota SUV driving outside the airport on Northwest 67th Avenue. The aircraft finally came to a halt in a grass area near a fence line separating the property from a staging zone for Tesla robotaxis.
Chief Raied Jadallah of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue confirmed that emergency responders found the pilot and co-pilot initially trapped inside the cockpit. Cellphone video footage obtained by NBC South Florida showed a crew member jumping from the aircraft following the impact, while separate photographic evidence captured a crew member being transported away on a gurney. Two crew members were on board the flight in total.
Corporate Responses and Federal Investigations
The aircraft involved in the incident was operated by 21 Air. Kelly Nantel, an Amazon spokesperson, issued a statement expressing condolences to the families and loved ones affected by the disaster. Keith Winters, CEO of 21 Air, stated on the company website that the carrier is cooperating fully with federal regulators.
Federal investigators face complex safety challenges at the site due to spilled aviation fuel. Homendy noted that recovery of the victims remains the primary focus of the agency, noting that the Ford van had been torn apart by the impact. The NTSB has successfully recovered the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder. Investigators plan to examine air traffic control communications, aircraft performance metrics, and surface conditions during their multi-day presence at the facility.