At least five people were killed and five others injured Sunday after an Amazon Prime Air cargo plane overran a runway while landing at Miami International Airport, slammed into several vehicles and burst into flames, authorities said.
Three of the injured were listed in critical condition, while two others suffered less severe injuries, according to Miami-Dade County officials.
The aircraft, a Boeing 767-300 operated by 21 Air for Amazon, was arriving from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it overran Miami International Airport’s diagonal runway shortly before 2 p.m. Sunday.
The aircraft continued beyond the runway and struck multiple vehicles on the ground before erupting in flames, sending a massive plume of black smoke into the sky.
More than 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units rushed to the scene. Firefighters arrived to find the aircraft engulfed in heavy flames and smoke and began battling the blaze while rescuers assessed and treated victims.
The identities of those killed and injured have not yet been released.
The crash triggered major disruptions at Miami International Airport, with authorities initially closing all runways and taxiways and imposing a full ground stop as emergency crews responded. Hundreds of flights were affected by the incident.
Amazon confirmed that the aircraft was operating for Amazon Air and said it was cooperating with authorities as investigators work to determine exactly what happened.
“This is a fast-moving situation and we’re still gathering details. We’re working closely with local authorities and officials to understand exactly what happened,” Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said.
“Right now, our absolute priority is the safety, well-being, and care of everyone involved. We’re doing everything we can to support those affected.”
The National Transportation Safety Board is sending an investigative team to Miami led by NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy. The Federal Aviation Administration is also investigating the crash.
The cause of the runway overrun remains under investigation.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
