Five people who were killed when an Amazon cargo plane crashed at Miami International Airport have been identified as authorities continue investigating why the aircraft failed to stop after landing.
The victims were on the ground when Amazon Air Flight 7598, operated by 21 Air LLC, ran beyond the end of Runway 30 on Sunday, Sept. 6. The Boeing 767 traveled about 1,300 feet beyond the paved runway before hitting vehicles, fences and airport equipment.
The five people killed were identified as Rolando Aleman Leon, 55; Yoel Rodríguez Naranjo, 53; Julio C. Pineda, 75; Carlos Acosta Fajardo, 53; and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo, 47.
All five were in vehicles struck by the aircraft, according to investigators.
New details emerge from flight data
Investigators have recovered the aircraft’s flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder as they work to reconstruct the final moments of the flight.
Preliminary information from the flight recorder indicates that the crew may have considered aborting the landing shortly after touchdown. The aircraft’s throttles were increased, suggesting an attempted go-around, but the maneuver was not completed.
Investigators also found that the aircraft’s speed brakes and thrust reversers were not deployed before the crash. Wheel braking was applied, released and then reapplied as the aircraft continued beyond the runway.
Those findings are part of the ongoing investigation and do not establish the cause of the crash.
The NTSB is examining several factors, including the aircraft’s performance, weather conditions, pilot decision-making and other circumstances surrounding the landing. Investigators are expected to interview the two pilots, who survived the crash and were later released from the hospital.
What happened at Miami International Airport?
Flight 7598 was traveling from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Miami when it overran Runway 30 during landing. It was the aircraft’s third flight of the day after earlier trips between Cincinnati, Miami and San Juan.
The Boeing 767 first struck airport navigation equipment before hitting a white Ford Econoline van belonging to Professional Ocean Service Corporation, an airline cleaning contractor.
Seven people were inside the van.
The aircraft then broke through a perimeter fence and struck a Toyota Corolla Cross traveling on Northwest 67th Avenue. It continued across the area beyond the runway before coming to a stop near a location where Tesla robotaxis were stationed.
The crash triggered a large emergency response and left a wide debris field around the airport.
Victims were ground workers and drivers
The five people who died were among those traveling in the vehicles hit by the aircraft.
Professional Ocean Service Corporation said its employees were like family and expressed condolences to those who were killed, injured or affected by the crash.
Friends and neighbors have also been remembering the victims.
Rolando Aleman Leon was described by a close friend and landlord as a caring man who leaves behind a son. Neighbors of Julio Pineda, who was 75, remembered him as a friendly presence in his Hialeah building who often shared food and treats with people around him.
The families are now dealing with the aftermath as investigators work to establish what led to the deadly runway overrun.
Five others were injured
Five people were injured in the crash, including the aircraft’s captain and first officer.
The pilots were identified as Joseph Carroll, 55, and Jaime Felipe Silva Molina, 37. Both were treated at a Miami hospital and released.
Three other injured people remained hospitalized in critical condition as of Tuesday, according to authorities.
The injured ground victims were identified as Eugenio Corredor, 79; Ridoel Averhoff Diaz, 32; and Roosevelt Sebastian Perdomo Torres, 36.
Investigation continues
The National Transportation Safety Board has deployed investigators to Miami and is examining the aircraft, runway environment, weather, crew actions and other factors that could have contributed to the crash.
The agency’s investigation remains ongoing, and officials have not announced a final cause.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office is also maintaining a presence at the crash site and conducting its own investigation into the deaths.
Miami International Airport has continued working to restore normal operations while investigators document the crash site and crews handle recovery and cleanup. Airport officials have advised travelers to check directly with their airlines for current flight information because the incident has affected airport operations.
Amazon has expressed condolences to the victims’ families and said it will cooperate with the investigation. 21 Air, which operated the flight, has also said it is cooperating with federal and local authorities.
For now, investigators are focused on answering a central question: why did the Boeing 767 continue beyond the runway after landing, and what happened during the crew’s apparent attempt to stop or abort the landing?
The NTSB’s investigation is expected to provide additional information as investigators analyze the flight recorders and interview the crew.
