Amazon cargo plane crash at Miami airport leaves five dead, several injured

An Amazon Air cargo plane overran the runway while attempting to land at Miami International Airport on Sunday, killing five people and seriously injuring five others in an accident that disrupted travel during one of the busiest weekends of the year in the United States.

The Boeing 767-300 cargo aircraft crashed just before 2 p.m. local time after departing from Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. During the crash, the plane also struck several vehicles on the ground before coming to a stop. Amazon said it was working closely with local authorities to determine exactly what had happened.

The Federal Aviation Administration ordered all flights grounded as fire crews rushed to the smoking wreckage. It remains unclear whether those killed were aboard the aircraft, on the ground, or both.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava told reporters at a news conference Sunday evening that at least five people had died and five others were injured, adding that rescue crews reached the scene within seconds of the crash. She said the immediate focus remained on supporting affected families, treating the injured and continuing the emergency response.

Miami Fire Chief Raied Jadallah said three of the five injured were in critical condition, while the mayor noted that all of the injured had been taken to area hospitals with injuries that were not yet fully assessed. Jadallah said several of those hurt had been trapped inside or beneath vehicles on the ground and required extraction by fire and rescue personnel.

Officials said it was too early to determine the cause of the crash, which will be investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board, the federal agency responsible for investigating aviation accidents in the United States. The board is expected to hold a news conference on the matter Monday.

According to a statement from Miami International Airport, the Amazon flight, operated by North Carolina based charter company 21 Air, ran off the airport’s diagonal runway and came to rest disabled near the northwest end of the property. Miami Dade Fire Rescue said crews arrived to find the aircraft engulfed in flames with heavy smoke visible from a distance. More than 200 firefighters responded to the scene, and while the fire was eventually extinguished, a fuel leak remained at the site, Jadallah said.

Local residents described the scene in the aftermath of the crash. One nearby resident said she saw a large black cloud rising from the crash site and noticed an unfamiliar, acrid smell that she said did not resemble burning vegetation or mangroves. A student pilot who arrived shortly after the crash described hearing sirens and seeing helicopters circling overhead, and said the vehicles struck by the plane on the ground had been badly mangled.

Amazon issued a statement expressing condolences for those killed. Kelly Nantel, the company’s director of corporate global media relations, said the company was heartbroken to learn that five people had died in the incident and extended sympathy to the families and loved ones affected. She said the aircraft, operated by 21 Air, was attempting to land when the crash occurred and that Amazon would continue working with local authorities and cooperate fully with any investigation. Attempts to reach 21 Air for comment were not immediately successful.

Flight tracking data showed the cargo plane traveling at approximately 112 knots as it exited the usable portion of the runway, eventually coming to rest near a parking lot that serves an Amazon warehouse and several nearby businesses. Light thunderstorms and gusting winds were reported in the Miami area at the time of the crash.

The incident occurred during one of the heaviest travel periods of the year in the United States, and passengers at the airport reported frustration over a lack of information from officials as numerous flights were delayed or cancelled. Long lines formed at airline counters as travelers scrambled to rebook flights, with some saying they would need to remain in Miami for an additional night. One traveler said the earliest available flight to San Francisco was not until Tuesday morning, meaning he would likely need to find a hotel and spend extra time in the city.

The Transportation Security Administration said roughly 17 million travelers were expected to pass through American airports in the week leading up to Monday’s Labor Day holiday, with an estimated 2.3 million people flying on Sunday alone. Miami International Airport, located near downtown Miami, ranks among the busiest airports in the country and serves as the nation’s leading hub for international freight traffic. According to the airport, it also ranks second nationally for international passenger volume and offers more flights to Latin America and the Caribbean than any other airport in the United States, with roughly 60 percent of all international visitors to Florida arriving through its terminals.