A deadly plane crash at Miami International Airport left five people dead and five others injured Sunday afternoon after an Amazon Prime Air cargo plane overran a runway while landing.
Prime Air Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-300 operated by Miami-based cargo carrier 21 Air, had arrived from San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it went off MIA’s diagonal runway around 2 p.m. on September 6. The aircraft continued beyond the airport grounds, struck multiple vehicles and caught fire.
Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz confirmed five people were killed and five others were hospitalized. Three of the injured were reported in critical condition, while two others suffered less serious injuries. Authorities had not immediately confirmed whether those killed were aboard the aircraft or inside vehicles struck by the plane.
More than 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the crash. Rescue crews faced a difficult scene that included people trapped in vehicles, the aircraft’s pilots trapped in the cockpit and a fuel leak from the damaged plane.
The crash brought operations at one of the country’s busiest airports to a halt. All runways and taxiways were initially closed, and the FAA issued a ground stop while emergency crews worked at the scene. Hundreds of flights were affected, with travelers warned to expect delays and cancellations.
Amazon confirmed that the aircraft was operating for Prime Air but was flown by 21 Air, an important distinction from simply calling it an “Amazon-operated plane.” The company said it was working with authorities and supporting those affected by the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, with the FAA also investigating. The cause of the runway overrun has not yet been determined, so any claims circulating online about what caused the crash should be treated as speculation until investigators release their findings.
