A devastating plane crash at Miami International Airport on Sunday left five people dead and five others seriously injured after an Amazon Air cargo flight overshot the runway during a landing attempt. The Boeing 767-300 aircraft, which was arriving from Puerto Rico, collided with several vehicles on the ground and burst into flames, prompting an immediate federal grounding order for all flights at the airport during one of the busiest holiday travel weekends of the year.
The cargo flight, operated by North Carolina-based charter company 21 Air on behalf of Amazon, departed from Luis Muñoz MarÃn International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It crashed just before 14:00 local time (19:00 GMT). According to Miami International Airport officials, the plane overran the diagonal runway and became disabled at the northwest end of the airfield. Tracking data from FlightRadar24 indicated that the Boeing 767-300 was traveling at 112 knots (129 mph or 207 km/h) as it exited the usable runway. The aircraft eventually came to a stop near a parking lot that services an Amazon warehouse and other local businesses. At the time of the landing attempt, the area was experiencing light thunderstorms and gusting winds.
More than 200 firefighters rushed to the crash site, where they encountered heavy flames and thick smoke rising from the burning aircraft. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews arrived within seconds of the crash and managed to extinguish the fire, though officials noted that a fuel leak at the site remained an ongoing concern. The impact of the overshoot extended beyond the runway as the plane struck several vehicles on the ground. Miami Fire Chief Raied Jadallah reported that multiple injured individuals were trapped inside or beneath these vehicles, requiring complex extrication efforts by rescue teams.
Speaking at a news conference on Sunday evening, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava confirmed the tragic toll of the incident, describing it as an "incredibly difficult day." She stated that at least five people had lost their lives and five others were injured. The injured victims were transported to local hospitals with unspecified injuries. Chief Jadallah added that three of the five injured survivors are currently in critical condition. Mayor Levine Cava emphasized that the immediate focus remains on supporting the affected families, assisting the injured, and managing the active emergency response.
Amazon expressed deep condolences following the accident. Kelly Nantel, Amazon’s Director of Corporate Global Media Relations, released a statement expressing heartbreak over the loss of life. Nantel conveyed the company's deepest sympathies to the families, loved ones, and everyone impacted by the tragedy. She confirmed that the flight was operated by charter partner 21 Air and was attempting to land when the crash occurred, adding that Amazon is cooperating fully with the investigation and working closely with local authorities to determine the cause.
The crash caused massive disruption at Miami International Airport, a critical travel hub that handles approximately 60 percent of all international visitors to Florida. Because the incident occurred over the Labor Day holiday weekend, the timing compounded travel chaos. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a temporary ground stop on all flights immediately after the crash. Travelers at the airport expressed immense frustration over delayed and canceled flights, as well as a perceived lack of timely information from airport officials. Long lines formed at airline service counters as passengers scrambled to reschedule their itineraries, with many facing the prospect of spending an extra night in Miami. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) had previously projected that 17 million people would travel through US airports during the holiday week, with 2.3 million passengers expected to fly on Sunday alone.
Federal authorities are launching a comprehensive inquiry into the crash. While local officials stated that it is too early to determine what caused the Boeing 767-300 to overrun the runway, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken charge of the investigation. The NTSB, which is responsible for investigating all civil aviation accidents in the United States, announced plans to hold a formal press briefing on Monday to provide updates on their preliminary findings.
"Right now, our focus is on the families, those who were injured, and the ongoing response," she continued.
"The airplane, which was operated by 21 Air, was attempting to land when this incident occurred. We're working closely with local authorities and officials to learn more and will cooperate fully with any investigation."
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