An Amazon cargo plane crashed after overrunning a runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday afternoon, killing at least five people and injuring five others, authorities said.
The Boeing 767-300, operating as 21 Air Flight 7598, had arrived from San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it went beyond the end of the runway at about 2 p.m. The aircraft continued into an area near the airport and struck several vehicles before coming to rest in a nearby field.
The crash triggered a large emergency response and temporarily disrupted operations at one of the nation’s busiest airports.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue sent more than 60 units to the scene after the aircraft caught fire and produced heavy smoke. Crews used specialized airport firefighting equipment and foam to battle the flames while other teams searched the aircraft and surrounding area for victims.
Five people were injured in the crash. Three were taken to a trauma center in critical condition, while two others were transported to local hospitals for treatment.
Authorities have not yet publicly identified the people who died or confirmed whether all five fatalities were aboard the aircraft or among people on the ground.
Several people were trapped inside vehicles struck during the crash and required technical rescue crews to free them.
Firefighters Responded to Aircraft Fire
When emergency crews arrived, the aircraft was already on fire. Rescue teams also worked to reach the cockpit, where the pilot and co-pilot were located.
Officials described the response as a complicated rescue and firefighting operation because of the aircraft fire, damaged vehicles and fuel leaking from the plane.
The fuel leak was contained as crews worked to make the area safe. Residents and motorists were also urged to stay away from roads around the crash site while emergency operations continued.
Officials said there was no continuing threat to the wider public.
Miami Airport Operations Were Disrupted
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop for Miami International Airport at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday as emergency crews responded to the crash.
The ground stop was lifted after roughly three hours, and airport operations gradually resumed. However, the accident continued to cause substantial delays.
The FAA reported that arriving flights were still experiencing delays related to the disabled aircraft and runway restrictions. Miami airport information showed some flights facing delays of several hours as the airport worked through the disruption.
By Monday morning, scheduled flights were again operating at Miami International Airport, although the effects of Sunday’s crash continued to affect some travelers.
FAA and NTSB Investigating the Crash
The FAA confirmed that the aircraft was a Boeing 767-300 cargo plane operated by 21 Air. The flight had departed Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan before the runway overrun in Miami.
The cause of the crash has not been determined.
Investigators will examine the aircraft, flight data, runway conditions, weather, air traffic control information and the actions of the flight crew as they work to establish what happened during the landing.
The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to lead the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
The aircraft was about 32 years old and had previously been used as a passenger aircraft before being converted for cargo operations.
Amazon confirmed that one of its aircraft was involved in the accident and said its priority was the safety and care of those affected.
The company also said it would cooperate fully with the investigation and expressed condolences to the families and loved ones of those who died.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not yet released a definitive explanation for why the aircraft overran the runway.
