At least five people have died and five others were injured after an Amazon cargo aircraft overran a runway while landing at Miami International Airport, crashed into several vehicles and caught fire on Sunday.
The Boeing 767-300 cargo plane had arrived from San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it went beyond the runway shortly after landing at about 2 p.m. Thick black smoke rose from the crash site as emergency crews battled the fire and worked to rescue people trapped in vehicles struck by the aircraft.
Three of the injured were taken to a trauma centre in critical condition, while two others were transported to a local hospital. Authorities had yet to establish whether those killed were aboard the aircraft or on the ground.
Brandspur Brand News reports that the aircraft was operated by North Carolina-based cargo carrier 21 Air for Amazon. The pilots were removed from the plane and received medical attention, although their conditions were not immediately disclosed.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation. Flight-tracking data indicated that the aircraft was travelling at nearly 130 miles per hour when it left the usable section of the runway, while a review of air traffic control communications found no emergency declaration from the pilots before landing.
More than 60 emergency units responded to the scene, where firefighters encountered heavy flames and smoke. Miami-Dade authorities also began identifying the victims and opened a dedicated information line for affected families.
The US National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash. Investigators are expected to examine factors including the aircraft’s condition, the actions of the flight crew, weather conditions and the airport environment.
The accident caused major disruption at Miami International Airport during the busy Labor Day weekend. More than 450 arriving and departing flights had been delayed or cancelled by Sunday night, while a ground stop lasting roughly three hours affected airport operations. Further delays were expected as the disabled aircraft remained near the runway.
The Boeing 767 involved in the crash was about 32 years old and landed on Runway 30, which stretches for more than 9,000 feet. Inspection crews found no aircraft debris on the runway itself, although navigational equipment was damaged after the plane left the paved surface.
Weather conditions are also likely to form part of the investigation. Aviation experts noted that wind direction changed before the landing, potentially introducing a tailwind, which can increase an aircraft’s groundspeed and affect the distance required to slow down.
Amazon expressed condolences to the families and others affected by the crash and said it would cooperate with investigators. The company confirmed that 21 Air operated the aircraft.
21 Air also pledged cooperation with authorities. The cargo carrier operates Boeing 767 aircraft for companies including Amazon and DHL and has an operations centre in Miami.
The accident has renewed attention on runway excursions, incidents in which aircraft leave the runway during take-off or landing. According to the International Air Transport Association, runway excursions remain the most common type of aircraft accident globally.
Amazon Air operates more than 100 cargo aircraft as part of the e-commerce company’s logistics network, transporting parcels and other shipments between destinations as part of its delivery operations.
