Five people died when an Amazon cargo plane overran a Miami International Airport runway on September 6, 2026, striking vehicles and catching fire. Federal investigators are examining landing speed, touchdown timing, and the absence of specialized arrest beds at the south Florida facility.
The aircraft, a 32-year-old Boeing 767-300 operating as Prime Air Flight 7598, arrived from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and touched down at Miami International Airport around 2 p.m. local time on Sunday, September 6, 2026. The flight was operated by North Carolina-based cargo carrier 21 Air.
After crossing the paved surface, the jet traveled approximately 1,300 feet past the end of the runway, plowed across a perimeter road utilized by warehouse workers and local businesses, and struck multiple vehicles before erupting in flames.
Casualties and Emergency Response at the Perimeter Road
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue deployed more than 60 fire apparatuses and nearly 200 personnel to the crash site. First responders arrived to find heavy flames and thick black smoke billowing from the aircraft.
Miami-Dade County fire chief Ray Jadallah told reporters that five people were killed at the scene. National Transportation Safety Board Chairperson Jennifer Homendy stated on Monday that all five fatalities occurred inside a destroyed van carrying seven individuals from an airline cleaning contractor, Professional Ocean Service Corp., alongside a crushed SUV located outside airport property.
Emergency crews executed a complex technical rescue operation to free trapped occupants. Firefighters used foam to extinguish flames in the engine compartment, deployed specialized hazardous materials units to shut down the aircraft engine, and managed a fuel leak.
In addition to the five fatalities, three individuals were transported to trauma centers in critical condition
and two others were hospitalized with less severe injuries. Fire rescue personnel also had to extricate a person who was trapped underneath one of the involved vehicles.
Federal Investigation Into Landing Speed and Touchdown Zone
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration launched investigative teams to determine the cause of the runway excursion. Investigators spent Monday examining whether the aircraft touched down too late to stop safely.
Runway Safety Beds and Airport Compliance Standards
The crash has renewed scrutiny regarding runway safety infrastructure at Miami International Airport. Federal aviation officials confirmed that the airport is not equipped with an Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS), which utilizes beds of lightweight, crushable concrete at runway ends to decelerate overrunning aircraft safely.
The FAA states that EMAS has been installed at more than 120 airports nationwide and has been credited with saving at least 497 lives. However, the system is not mandatory for all airports.
Airport Operations and Corporate Response
The incident brought operations at the major south Florida hub to a standstill during the Labour Day weekend. Airport authorities closed all runways and taxiways, issuing an immediate ground stop that halted all arriving and departing flights for several hours.
While the airport’s general ground stop was lifted late Sunday afternoon, lingering arrival delays extended into Monday due to the disabled aircraft remaining near the runway.
“We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today’s incident at Miami International Airport. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss.”
Kelly Nantel, Amazon spokesperson
Amazon confirmed it will cooperate fully with local authorities and federal investigators as the inquiry continues.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel declined to provide further details regarding the incident but confirmed that the company is working closely with airport authorities to resolve the situation.
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