Amazon cargo plane sends up billowing cloud of smoke after overrunning runway at Miami airport

An Amazon cargo plane tumbled off the runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday, September 6, 2026, leaving a trail of smoke and chaos. The incident, which occurred around 2 p.m., saw the aircraft strike several vehicles and ignite into a blaze, sending thick black smoke into the air. The crash resulted in the closure of all runways and taxiways, causing a significant disruption to air travel at one of the country's busiest airports.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue dispatched over 60 units to the scene, with crews working to douse the flames and tend to any potential injuries. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) declared a full ground stop, while Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the agency was sending investigators to the crash site. The cargo plane, a 32-year-old Boeing 767 originally designed for passenger transport, had been converted to a cargo vessel in 2015 and operated by 21 Air, a North Carolina-based carrier.

The plane came to rest partially on its belly, alongside a roadway and two semi-trucks, though it appeared largely intact despite the fire. The crash led to the cancellation or significant delay of approximately 250 flights as of late afternoon, with the FAA warning that delays would likely persist even after the airport resumed limited operations.