At least five people were killed and five others were injured on Sunday when an Amazon cargo plane overran a runway at Miami International Airport, crashed into vehicles, and burst into flames, according to officials. The widebody freighter, a 32-year-old Boeing 767-300 operating as Prime Air Flight 7598, arrived from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was touching down on Runway 30 just before 2 p.m. when it failed to stop on the pavement, according to the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Fatal Cargo Jet Crash at Miami International Airport
Tracking data showed the aircraft was traveling at roughly 129 miles per hour as it blew past the runway end, plowed through the airport boundary, and crossed a perimeter road, slamming into multiple vehicles, including a passenger van carrying seven people. The impact sent thick black smoke billowing into the sky and trapped the pilot and co-pilot inside the cockpit, along with occupants in the struck cars. Cellphone video captured a pilot jumping out of the cockpit door and running from the burning aircraft as it rapidly engulfed in flames.
Emergency Response and Rescue Operations
More than 60 fire apparatuses and roughly 200 personnel from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to the scene, battling heavy flames, a prolonged fuel leak, and engine compartment fires using foam. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Raied “Ray” Jadallah described the incident as a very complex situation requiring specialized technical rescue teams to perform extrications, including a search and rescue operation for the trapped pilot and co-pilot. Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz confirmed that officers responded to the tragic scene and stated there was no apparent threat to public safety. Five people suffered injuries in the crash; three victims were transported to local trauma centers in critical condition, while two others were treated and taken to a local hospital.
Federal Investigation and Evidence Recovery
The National Transportation Safety Board launched a go team to investigate the runway excursion, with NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy leading an afternoon briefing on Monday to announce that investigators had successfully recovered both black boxes from the wreckage. Both the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder were sent to laboratory specialists in Washington for extensive analysis. Federal teams are examining where the aircraft touched down on the runway—standard operating procedures require planes to land within the first 3,000 feet—while video footage suggested the jet floated abnormally far down the tarmac. Investigators are also reviewing weather conditions at the time, which included severe storm clouds, wet surfaces, strong wind gusts, and a strong tailwind that can reduce stopping distance, alongside mechanical performance, maintenance history, tire and brake assemblies, reverse thrusters, and runway infrastructure lacking crushable concrete arresting beds.
Airport Disruptions and Corporate Response
The crash triggered an immediate ground stop that halted all flights and forced the closure of all four runways and taxiways at Miami International Airport, though two of the four runways have since reopened and the ground stop was lifted. Travelers faced significant delays and cancellations, prompting airport officials to advise passengers to check flight statuses directly with their airlines before traveling. American Airlines announced it was waiving change fees for affected travelers. The aircraft was operated by North Carolina-based 21 Air, whose CEO Keith Winters released a statement saying he was devastated by the accident and offering condolences to the victims’ families. Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated that the tech giant was heartbroken and would cooperate fully with investigators. Authorities established a hotline for loved ones at 305-471-2400.
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