5 dead after Amazon cargo plane crashes at Miami airport

At least five individuals perished after an Amazon Prime Air cargo plane crashed during landing at Miami International Airport on Sunday, according to local officials. The Amazon Prime Air Flight 7598 had overran the airport's diagonal runway shortly before 2 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT) and collided with several vehicles on the ground, officials revealed during a press conference on Sunday afternoon.

Five people sustained injuries, with three of them in critical condition, reported Miami-Dade Fire Chief Ray Jadallah. At least two victims were trapped in vehicles struck by the plane, while the pilot and co-pilot were confined inside the aircraft by the crash, Jadallah added. Authorities did not disclose the identities of those who lost their lives.

Over 60 rescue units and approximately 200 personnel responded to the incident, stated Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. As of late afternoon, emergency responders were still addressing an active fuel leak from the aircraft, Jadallah disclosed. Though the airport immediately halted all flights following the crash, two of its four runways were restored by Sunday evening.

The Boeing 767-300 freighter, which had previously functioned as a passenger jet for various airlines from 1994 to 2015, was operated by 21 Air, the cargo airline contracted by Amazon, revealed an Amazon spokesperson. "We are devastated by the accident involving one of our aircraft in Miami today," 21 Air stated on its website. "Our deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives."

Pictures provided by Reuters depicted the plane with its nose grounded and tail elevated, showing signs of scorch marks on its right side. The plane was traveling at 112 knots (129 mph) when it exited the usable runway, according to Flightradar24. The National Transportation Safety Board, responsible for investigating U.S. civil aviation accidents, dispatched a team led by Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy to investigate the crash and will hold its first media briefing in Miami on Monday.

Amazon is still collecting information about the incident, a company spokesperson, Kelly Nantel, announced. "We’re working closely with local authorities and officials to understand exactly what happened," Nantel stated in a statement. "Right now, our absolute priority is the safety, well-being, and care of everyone involved." Both Boeing and 21 Air pledged their support for the government investigations into the crash.

This incident isn't the first instance of an Amazon Prime Air plane being involved in a fatal crash. In February 2019, Atlas Air Flight 3591, a Boeing 767-300 freighter operating under Amazon Prime Air from Miami to Houston, experienced a rapid descent and crashed into Trinity Bay, Texas, resulting in the deaths of all three people on board.