Five dead after Amazon cargo plane crashes at Miami airport

At least five people were killed Sunday (Sept. 6) after an Amazon cargo plane overran a runway at Miami International Airport (MIA), struck several vehicles and caught fire, prompting an emergency response and flight delays.

The aircraft, arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, went off the runway at approximately 2 p.m. ET, according to the Associated Press.

In addition to the five fatalities, three people were critically injured and two others were hospitalized with less serious injuries, said Miami-Dade County officials.

Video shared on social media appeared to show the jet travelling well beyond the normal landing area on Runway 30. Two sets of landing gear touched down while the left rear gear continued bouncing along the runway.

The aircraft eventually crossed pavement and struck several vehicles, including one that was flipped onto its side and badly damaged, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said Monday (Sept. 7).

All five of those who were killed were inside vehicles, Homendy said.

The plane ultimately came to a fiery stop near another fence line separating the area from a location where Tesla robotaxis were stationed.

Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 indicated the aircraft was still travelling at nearly 130 mph when it reached the end of the runway.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Ray Jadallah said the crash trapped the pilot and co-pilot in the cockpit, while occupants were also trapped inside vehicles. Another person was reportedly pinned beneath a vehicle.

More than 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the scene, where crews encountered the aircraft on fire. Crews were also dealing with a fuel leak from the aircraft several hours after the crash.

Images from the scene showed the Prime Air aircraft resting on its belly beside a roadway near two semi-trucks. Despite the fire, much of the aircraft appeared to remain intact.

Hundreds of flights delayed

The accident significantly disrupted operations at Miami airport, halting flights for much of Sunday afternoon.

About 250 flights were delayed by late afternoon, according to FlightAware.

The flight was operated by 21 Air, a North Carolina-based cargo carrier. The 32-year-old Boeing 767 was originally built as a passenger aircraft and flew with several airlines for more than two decades before being converted for cargo operations in 2015, according to Flightradar24.

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board has since launched an investigation, with Amazon pledging its full co-operation.

"We're heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today's incident at Miami International Airport," the company said in a statement. "Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss."

Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!  Click here to follow PAX on Facebook.