Five dead after Amazon-branded cargo plane overruns runway at Miami airport, striking multiple vehicles

Five people are dead and five others were injured when an Amazon-branded cargo plane crashed just outside Miami International Airport on Sunday afternoon, officials said. The Boeing 767-300 cargo aircraft overran the runway just before 2 p.m. ET while it was landing, according to officials. The plane, 21 Air Flight 7598, was arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The plane overran runway number 30, struck multiple vehicles, and came to rest at a field next to the airport, Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said. Three people are in critical condition and were taken to a trauma center, and two others were taken to a local hospital, Miami-Dade Fire Chief Raied Jadallah said. A hotline has been set up for family members who may have been involved in the tragedy. The scene remains active. Video showed plumes of smoke billowing from the wreckage. Multiple vehicles near the airport were struck, according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said the flight was operated by 21 Air and was attempting to land when the incident occurred. “We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today’s incident at Miami International Airport. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss,” Nantel said. “This is a fast-moving situation and we’re still gathering details. We’re working closely with local authorities and officials to understand exactly what happened,” she said. “Right now, our absolute priority is the safety, well-being, and care of everyone involved.” All runways and taxiways at Miami International Airport were closed following a ground stop, an airport spokesperson said in a statement. After 5 p.m. ET, two of the four runways at the airport had reopened, the airport spokesperson said, and the airport was under a ground delay. Fire and rescue personnel responded to the scene “within seconds,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. More than 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the scene, where firefighters worked to extinguish a “very complex fire” that involved blazing engine compartments, said Jadallah, the fire chief. A search and rescue operation was also launched to retrieve the pilot and co-pilot, trapped in the plane, he said. The plane struck “a couple of vehicles,” leaving some victims trapped inside and prompting a “a complex extrication” by a technical rescue team, Jadallah said. The National Transportation Safety Board said it is gathering information. The FAA and NTSB will determine the cause of the crash. The NTSB said it has launched a team to investigate the incident.