At least five people have died after an Amazon cargo aircraft overran the runway and struck vehicles at Miami International Airport on Sunday, authorities confirmed. The incident occurred around 2 p.m. local time (1800 GMT) when Prime Air Flight 7598 arrived from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Miami-Dade County officials reported that three individuals are in critical condition and two others were hospitalized with less severe injuries. A press conference revealed that investigators are currently unable to confirm whether the fatalities were among the flight crew or individuals in vehicles hit by the plane.
“Right now, our absolute priority is the safety, well-being and care of everyone involved,” officials stated. Thick plumes of black smoke were seen rising into the sky as the Boeing 767-300 came to rest on its belly. The cockpit remained trapped, and emergency responders worked to free those inside.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced it has dispatched a team to investigate the runway excursion accident. The flight was operated by North Carolina-based carrier 21 Air. According to Flightradar24 data, the 32-year-old aircraft was originally built for passengers before being converted to a freighter in 2015.
Amazon expressed sorrow over the tragedy, stating, “We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives… Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones and all those affected by this devastating loss.” The company added that it would fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
The crash caused significant disruptions at the airport, with approximately 250 flights delayed by late Sunday afternoon. Fire crews continued to address a fuel leak hours after the impact. Eyewitnesses described the scene near the airport fences, with one local business owner noting he had never imagined an accident could come so close to the community.
How did a 767 overrun the runway? Seems like a serious maintenance or pilot error issue. What exactly caused this?
This is absolutely terrifying. Five lives lost is a tragedy beyond words. My heart goes out to the victims and their families.