5 dead, 5 injured after Amazon cargo plane overruns runway in Miami, striking multiple vehicles
By Amanda Musa, Pete Muntean, Aaron Cooper, Karina Tsui, CNN
(CNN) — At least five people are dead after an Amazon cargo aircraft overran the runway during a landing at Miami International Airport on Sunday afternoon, striking multiple vehicles and sending a thick black plume of smoke into the air as it caught fire.
Five others were injured in the crash, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Raied “Ray” Jadallah said during a news conference Sunday evening. Three are in critical condition and were taken to a trauma center, while two others were taken to a local hospital, he said.
Several victims were trapped in the vehicles that were hit by the plane and had to be extricated, Jadallah said.
The plane, a Boeing 767-300 cargo aircraft, was flying from San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it overran the runway after landing in Miami around 2 p.m., the Federal Aviation Administration said.
It’s not clear why the plane was unable to stop. It was going nearly 130 miles per hour when it left the usable portion of the runway, according to data from tracking site Flightradar24. A review of air traffic control audio by CNN shows the pilots did not declare an emergency before the landing.
More than 60 “units arrived to find an airplane that had caught on fire as a result of this crash, with heavy flames and smoke showing,” an X post from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue says.
“Guys, the plane’s on fire. Plane’s on fire. Put your game faces on,” a first responder said in dispatch audio obtained by Broadcastify.
Responders said the pilots had been removed from the plane and were being treated. Their conditions are unknown.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said it was in the process of confirming the identities of those who died and had established a dedicated family information phone line.
The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA will investigate. A team of FAA investigators was on the scene as of Sunday evening, according to the city’s mayor, and NTSB investigators were on their way.
“We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today’s incident at Miami International Airport,” Kelly Nantel, an Amazon spokesperson, said in a statement to CNN. “Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss.”
Amazon said the plane was operated by 21 Air and that it “will cooperate fully with any investigation.”
21 Air is an all-cargo carrier headquartered in North Carolina, according to its website. It has a 24/7 operations center in Miami that dispatches planes for companies like Amazon and DHL using a fleet of Boeing 767 aircraft. According to aviation analytics company Cirium, 21 Air operates eight Boeing 767 planes for Amazon Air, the retailer’s cargo airline.
In a statement Sunday, 21 Air’s CEO Keith Winters said it was also cooperating with authorities, adding: “We are devastated by the accident involving one of our aircraft in Miami today. Our deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives.”
The incident occurred during Labor Day weekend, a busy time for air travel. More than 450 flights in and out of the airport were delayed or canceled as of Sunday night, according to FlightAware.com. A ground stop for planes flying to the airport was lifted around 5 p.m., but flights are expected to be delayed into Monday due to the disabled aircraft on the runway, according to the FAA.
The 32-year-old Boeing plane landed on runway 30, which is more than 9,000 feet long, according to FAA data. Inspection crews reported there were no aircraft parts or debris found on the runway, but the plane damaged navigational equipment when it left the pavement.
Investigators working to determine the cause of the incident are likely to look into four different areas: the piloting of the aircraft, the airfield, the weather and the condition of the plane, CNN Transportation Analyst Mary Schiavo told CNN’s Ben Hunte.
“Now, we do know that there were no Mayday calls before the landing – they didn’t report to Air Traffic Control that they had any problems with the aircraft,” Schiavo said. “But then some of those problems wouldn’t be known until the moment you touched down.”
The runways at Miami International are not equipped with Arrestor Beds, also known as an Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS) – a pad of crushable material placed at the end of the runway to stop an aircraft from overrunning.
“We have those all over the United States, and they’re all over the world,” Schiavo said. “And for an airport as congested as Miami –– with population all around it –– buildings, freeways, et cetera, not to have any of this safety overrun system is a little surprising.”
CNN has reached out to the FAA and the airport for comment.
A Miami resident living roughly three miles from the airport told CNN affiliate WFOR he felt his home shake during the plane crash.
Jose Sanchez initially thought a truck had exploded. “But for the house to shake – it wasn’t normal,” he told WFOR.
Another resident living near the airport said the crash was a scary sight.
“I looked and saw the tail and there was a lot of emergency vehicles headed in this direction. It’s crazy,” the resident told CNN affiliate WSVN.
Some passengers departing from Miami airport have rebooked flights out of fear of further delays.
“We boarded — we were all sitting on the plane. 3:30 and they made an announcement that there was a ground stop and a plane went off the runway,” one traveler told WSVN.
“No one’s going to be leaving anytime soon. Everything is closed and delayed, so I re-booked out of Orlando for Tuesday.”
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava was on the scene Sunday evening where she received a briefing from FAA officials.
“Our teams remain in close coordination with our federal partners, focused on caring for those affected, supporting our first responders and keeping our community safe,” she wrote in a post on X.
The Amazon Air cargo aircraft was one of more than 250 that the e-commerce giant operates daily to ship customer packages.
Amazon Air operates a fleet of more than 100 cargo aircraft, including the Boeing 737 and 767 and the Airbus A330. Cargo shipments may include anything from general merchandise, like a company’s flower bouquet orders, to dry ice, perishable medicines, parcels, fish, fruit and other goods.
Runway excursions – when airplanes go off the runway – are the No. 1 incident involving airplanes worldwide, according to data from the International Air Transport Association.
This story has been updated with additional information.
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CNN’s Sarah Dewberry, Amanda Jackson, Nayeli Jaramillo-Plata and Auzinea Bacon contributed to this report.
