At least five individuals were killed and five others injured after an Amazon cargo aircraft overshot the runway at Miami International Airport in Florida on Sunday afternoon. The incident involved 21 Air Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-300 freighter operating on behalf of Amazon, which crashed into vehicles shortly before 2 p.m. local time.
Miami-Dade County officials confirmed the details during an evening press conference. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched investigations into the cause of the crash. Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated that the company is cooperating fully with authorities and extended sympathies to the families of those affected.
According to the FAA, the flight departed from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz reported that the crash occurred around 1:58 p.m. Data from Flightradar24 indicated the plane was traveling at nearly 130 mph when it left the usable portion of the diagonal runway.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded with more than 60 units and approximately 200 personnel. Fire Rescue Chief Raied Jadallah described the scene as complex, noting that responders found the aircraft stopped beyond the airport’s operational boundary with heavy flames and smoke. Several people were trapped in vehicles, and search and rescue operations were conducted for the pilot and co-pilot inside the aircraft.
Jadallah revealed that ten people were involved in the crash: five died, three remain in critical condition at a trauma center, and two were transported to a local hospital. It remained unclear on Sunday evening whether the victims were passengers on the plane or individuals on the ground.
The disaster disrupted operations at what the Miami airport describes as America’s busiest airport for international freight and the second busiest for international passengers. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy advised travelers to expect significant delays and potential cancellations. A full ground stop was imposed but lifted after about three hours, though delays were expected to continue into early Monday.
North Carolina-based 21 Air began flying Boeing 767-300 freighters for Amazon in 2024. CEO Keith Winters expressed devastation over the accident. The aircraft involved was 32 years old; the Boeing 767 model first flew in 1981 and has been used for both passenger and cargo transport since commercial operations began in 1982.
Amazon’s cargo network manages more than 100 aircraft and over 250 daily flights, contracting all operations to external carriers. The company utilizes Boeing 737 and 767 planes, as well as Airbus A330s. Reporting from the New York Times cited aviation analytics firm Cirium, indicating that 21 Air operates eight planes for Amazon Air, while Air Transport International operates approximately 40 and Sun Country Airlines operates 22.
This event marks another high-profile cargo aircraft crash in the United States. In February 2019, Atlas Air Flight 3591 crashed into Texas’s Trinity Bay after departing Miami, killing all three crew members due to pilot error. Additionally, last November, a UPS plane crashed into an industrial area in Louisville, Kentucky, shortly after takeoff, killing more than a dozen people.
Amazon’s logistics network is massive, but safety should never be compromised for speed.
The NTSB investigation needs to be thorough. Transparency is crucial here.
Is it normal for cargo jets to overrun like this? What caused the deceleration failure?
How is the airport still this busy with freight? This seems like a systemic risk we need to address.
Truly heartbreaking news. My thoughts are with the families and first responders today.