At least five people died when an Amazon Prime Air cargo plane overran a runway and crashed into ground vehicles at Miami International Airport on September 6, 2026. The Boeing 767 flight, arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, sparked an intensive emergency response and widespread travel disruptions.
A catastrophic cargo plane accident at Miami International Airport left at least five people dead on Sunday afternoon. Prime Air Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-300 operating a cargo run from San Juan, Puerto Rico, overran the facility’s diagonal runway just before 2 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT), according to local officials and the Federal Aviation Administration.
The aircraft barreled off the tarmac, struck multiple vehicles on the ground, and burst into flames, sending thick black smoke billowing into the Florida sky. Reuters photos after the crash showed the jet with its nose on the ground and tail tilted up, with the right side of the plane bearing what appeared to be scorch marks. Images from the scene showed the Prime Air plane coming to rest beside a roadway near two semi-trucks, resting largely on its belly and remaining mostly intact despite the fire. The sudden violence of the crash caught nearby business owners off guard.
We hear planes taking off and landing every five minutes. I thought I'd got used to it. I never thought it could come this close to us.
Jackson Lee, who runs an electronics shop near the crash site
Emergency Response and Runway Closures at Miami International Airport
First responders faced a complex rescue operation as the burning wreckage came to rest. Miami-Dade Rescue Fire Chief Ray Jadallah noted that the impact trapped the pilot and copilot inside the cockpit, along with occupants in nearby cars, while another person was trapped under a vehicle. Fire crews spent several hours dealing with a fuel leak on the plane.
Authorities confirmed during a Sunday afternoon news conference that five people lost their lives in the disaster. Five people were also injured in the crash, including three who are in critical condition, while two others were hospitalized with less severe injuries, Miami-Dade County officials told reporters. Officials stated that it was too soon to determine whether the people who died were on board the plane or in the vehicles the plane hit.
The incident forced the immediate closure of all runways and taxiways at the airport as of 3 p.m. EDT. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a post on X that travelers should expect significant delays and potential cancellations. FlightAware, a website that tracks flight disruptions, reported that about 250 flights were delayed at the airport by late afternoon Sunday. National Public Radio, citing Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, reported multiple patients
from the incident.
Aircraft History and Investigation by Federal Authorities
The aircraft involved in the crash was operated for Amazon by North Carolina-based cargo airline 21 Air, according to an Amazon spokesperson. Flight-tracking site Flightradar24 noted that the 32-year-old Boeing 767 was originally built to carry passengers and flew for several airlines for more than two decades before being converted to a cargo plane in 2015.
Federal oversight agencies moved quickly to launch formal inquiries. The Federal Aviation Administration said it will investigate the crash, while the National Transportation Safety Board said it is sending a team to Miami led by Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy to investigate.
Amazon corporate representatives pledged cooperation with any investigation while expressing condolences for the victims.
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.
Amazon statement
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel added that the company is still gathering details about what happened. We're working closely with local authorities and officials to understand exactly what happened,
Nantel said in a statement, emphasizing that Right now, our absolute priority is the safety, well-being, and care of everyone involved.
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