At least five people have died following a crash involving an Amazon cargo plane at Miami International Airport. The incident occurred when the Boeing 767-300 overran the runway while landing at approximately 2 PM ET (18:00 GMT) after arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the crash in a social media post.
In addition to the fatalities, five individuals were injured, with three reported to be in critical condition and two others hospitalized with less severe injuries, according to Miami-Dade County officials during a news conference. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue reported that multiple vehicles were struck by the plane, which caught fire after the crash. More than 60 fire rescue units were deployed to extinguish the fire and assess the situation.
Fire rescue chief Ray Jadallah indicated that some individuals were trapped in vehicles following the crash, and both the pilot and copilot were also trapped inside the aircraft. The total number of crew members or passengers on board remains unclear. Fire crews were addressing a fuel leak from the plane several hours post-incident.
An Amazon spokesperson stated that the aircraft was operated by 21 Air and experienced an incident during its landing attempt. Kelly Nantel, the spokesperson, emphasized that the company's priority is the safety and well-being of those involved and that they are cooperating with local authorities to understand the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Videos shared online depict black smoke rising from the vicinity of the runway, although the aircraft appeared largely intact despite the fire. The 32-year-old plane had previously served as a passenger aircraft for over two decades before being converted into a cargo carrier in 2015, according to flight-tracking site Flightradar24.
Initial reports suggested that the aircraft veered off the runway and crossed a road near the airport. The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has acknowledged the crash and will provide updates as more information becomes available. US Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a full ground stop in Miami following the incident, advising travelers to expect significant delays. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation by the FAA.