An Amazon cargo plane overshot the runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday afternoon, killing at least five people after the aircraft ploughed into multiple vehicles and burst into flames. The incident, which unfolded around 2pm local time, sent more than 60 emergency rescue units racing to the scene and left the airport severely disrupted for hours.
What Happened at Miami Airport
The Prime Air flight had arrived from San Juan, Puerto Rico, when the Boeing 767 failed to stop within the runway limits and careered off the end of the strip. The aircraft came to rest on its belly beside a roadway near two semi-trucks, images from the scene confirmed. Despite the intensity of the fire, the plane appeared largely intact.
Miami-Dade County officials confirmed at a news conference that five people were killed, three others were critically injured, and two more were hospitalised with less severe injuries. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Ray Jadallah said some victims were trapped inside their vehicles, while the pilot and copilot were also trapped inside the aircraft. Fire crews continued to deal with a fuel leak from the plane several hours after the crash.
Shocking footage circulating on social media showed enormous plumes of smoke rising from the crash site as emergency crews worked to extinguish the blaze and reach those trapped.
About the Aircraft and Its Operator
The flight was operated by 21 Air, a cargo carrier headquartered in North Carolina, on behalf of Amazon's Prime Air freight network. The aircraft involved was a 32-year-old Boeing 767 that was originally constructed as a passenger jet and flew for multiple commercial airlines for more than two decades before being converted to cargo operations in 2015. Aviation records place this crash among a long list of accidents and incidents involving airliners by location at airports around the world.
Flight disruption data indicated that approximately 250 flights were delayed at Miami International Airport by late Sunday afternoon as authorities managed the scene and restricted normal operations.
Emergency Response and Investigation
More than 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the crash, arriving to find the aircraft ablaze. Crews worked simultaneously to fight the fire, address the fuel leak, and treat injured patients at the scene.
The National Transportation Safety Board announced it is dispatching an investigative team to Miami, to be led by Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy, to determine the cause of the runway overrun.
Amazon acknowledged the incident through a spokesperson, saying the company was working closely with local authorities and officials. "Right now, our absolute priority is the safety, well-being, and care of everyone involved," the spokesperson stated.
Investigators have not yet indicated what caused the aircraft to overshoot the runway. The findings of the NTSB investigation are expected to take some time, as is standard following major aviation incidents. For those interested in other recent aviation emergencies, our earlier report on surf lifesavers responding to a plane crash offers a first-responder perspective on how emergency crews manage such disasters.
