Amazon announced Sunday that it is suspending its business relationship with 21 Air, a North Carolina-based cargo operator, following a fatal crash at Miami International Airport. The decision comes as investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident that claimed five lives last week.
The accident occurred on Sept. 6 when a Boeing 767 freighter, operating as Flight 7598 for Prime Air, failed to stop after landing and traveled approximately 1,300 feet (396 meters) beyond the end of the runway. The aircraft then struck a van carrying employees of a plane cleaning company. All five occupants of the van died, and five others sustained injuries.
“After the tragic incident last weekend, we’ve spent time supporting the investigation and reviewing some of the surrounding circumstances, and we’ve decided to pause our operations with 21 Air, the operator of Flight 7598,” Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said in a statement. “We’ll continue working to support the investigation and everyone affected.”
21 Air, which began transporting packages for Amazon in 2024, did not immediately return a request for comment regarding the suspension. The company’s response to Amazon’s decision remains unclear.
Preliminary data released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Sept. 9 indicated that one pilot warned the other that the aircraft was approaching too fast during final landing. Cockpit voice recordings also captured automated alerts regarding high descent speed and proximity to terrain. However, the full transcript of the cockpit conversation will not be made public until later in the investigation.
The NTSB plans to review several factors, including the jet’s maintenance history, weather conditions at the airport at the time of the crash, the aircraft’s ownership history, and operational procedures used by 21 Air. According to flight-tracking data, the 32-year-old Boeing was originally manufactured for passenger service and operated by various foreign airlines for over two decades before being converted to a cargo plane in 2015.
That aircraft was 32 years old and converted from a passenger jet. Makes you wonder about the safety standards for older cargo conversions.
Five lives lost is absolutely heartbreaking. Amazon needs to ensure strict oversight with all its cargo partners now.