Amazon cargo jet crashes in Miami, killing at least 5
Photo: REUTERS
An aviation disaster occurred in US on Sunday when an Amazon Prime Air cargo flight overran a runway and crashed during landing at Miami International Airport, killing at least five people.
Local officials reported that Prime Air Flight 7598 surged past the airport’s diagonal runway shortly before 2 pm EDT, smashing into several vehicles parked on the ground. Miami-Dade Fire Chief Ray Jadallah said the catastrophic accident also left five individuals injured, with three in critical condition.
Jadallah added that the collision trapped at least two people inside their crushed vehicles, while rescuers worked to free the pilot and co-pilot who remained trapped inside the cockpit.
Following the disaster, emergency services launched a massive operation, deploying more than 60 rescue units and around 200 emergency personnel to the crash site, according to a statement from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.
Emergency crews faced additional danger as they worked to contain an active fuel leak pouring from the damaged aircraft, Jadallah noted. Although authorities immediately suspended all flight operations at Miami International Airport following the impact, workers managed to reopen two of the airport’s four runways by Sunday evening.
Flight tracking service Flightradar24 revealed that the aircraft, which originally departed from San Juan, Puerto Rico, was a 32-year-old Boeing 767-300 freighter that previously served as a passenger airliner for various carriers between 1994 and 2015.
An Amazon spokesperson confirmed that cargo carrier 21 Air operated the vessel on behalf of the retail giant.
Expressing deep sorrow, 21 Air posted a statement on its website, saying, “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.”
Visuals after the incident showed the damaged aircraft resting with its nose slammed into the soil and its tail pointed skyward, while the right side of the fuselage exhibited distinct scorch marks.
Data from Flightradar24 indicated that the plane was traveling at a speed of 112 knots (129 mph) at the moment it veered off the usable portion of the runway.
To determine the cause of the disaster, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) dispatched a specialized investigative team led by Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy, who will host a press briefing in Miami on Monday.
Meanwhile, Amazon is actively gathering information regarding the incident, as company spokesperson Kelly Nantel said, “We’re working closely with local authorities and officials to understand exactly what happened. Right now, our absolute priority is the safety, well-being, and care of everyone involved.”
Both Boeing and 21 Air have pledged their full cooperation to assist government investigators. This fatal crash represents another dark chapter for Amazon’s logistics network, as Sunday’s tragedy is not the first fatal incident involving an Amazon Prime Air cargo plane.
In February 2019, Atlas Air Flight 3591, another Boeing 767-300 freighter flying for Amazon Prime Air from Miami to Houston, plunged into a rapid descent and crashed into Trinity Bay, Texas, killing all three crew members on board.
Source: Reuters (adapted)
