{
  "id": 6318376,
  "title": "Operator of plane in Miami crash had prior safety complaints by former employees",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/operator-of-plane-in-miami-crash-had-prior-safety-complaints-by",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-08T19:57:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CBS News",
    "slug": "cbs-news",
    "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/miami-plane-crash-21-air-safety-record/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Boeing 767 cargo plane operated by North Carolina-based 21 Air crashed into a Miami runway on Sunday, killing five people. Prior to this incident, 21 Air has faced numerous safety complaints from former employees, revealing a history of violating safety regulations. Jim Crane, owner of 21 Air, also owns the Houston Astros.\n\nFormer 21 Air pilot Karl Seuring, who has over 30 years of experience, filed a legal complaint alleging he was fired for raising safety concerns. He claims the company's management suppressed safety reports, pressured crew to fly without proper rest, and flew faulty planes. OSHA rejected his complaint over alleged retaliatory firing, but his appeal led to a 2023 Department of Labor tribunal, currently pending.\n\nFormer 21 Air chief pilot Bruce Joseph testified he was discouraged from logging safety concerns in the company system, with the safety director allegedly telling him not to put anything in the safety management software before speaking to CEO Mike Mendez. When asked whether reports eventually got filed, Joseph replied most did not.\n\nRetired pilot Tony Bless, who testified in Seuring's case, claimed for years that maintenance safety issues, pressure from the chief pilot's office, and the quality of pilots hired by 21 Air were problems. On Sunday's crash in Miami, Bless said it was not unexpected, citing the aforementioned issues.",
  "summary": "The Amazon Prime Air Boeing 767 cargo plane that crashed off a Miami runway on Sunday, killing five people, was operated by a North Carolina company that has been accused by past employees of violating safety regulations, legal documents reveal.",
  "key_points": [
    "21 Air plane crash in Miami killed five people",
    "Former employees filed safety complaints against North Carolina-based company",
    "Pilot Karl Seuring fired for raising safety concerns"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "CityNews",
        "title": "All 5 killed in Miami cargo jet crash were in a van used by plane cleaners",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/all-5-killed-in-miami-cargo-jet-crash-were-in-a-van-used-by-plane",
        "published": "2026-09-08T15:28:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "Bahamas plane crash update: What happened to Mario Lamar? Miami family of 4 found dead after tragedy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/bahamas-plane-crash-update-what-happened-to-mario-lamar-miami-family",
        "published": "2026-09-08T17:58:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour",
        "title": "All 5 killed in Miami airport cargo jet crash were in a van used by plane cleaners",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/all-5-killed-in-miami-airport-cargo-jet-crash-were-in-a-van-used-by",
        "published": "2026-09-08T21:12:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "What to know about the Amazon cargo plane crash in Miami that killed 5 workers in a van",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/what-to-know-about-the-amazon-cargo-plane-crash-in-miami-that-killed",
        "published": "2026-09-08T21:48:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Associated Press",
        "title": "What to know about the Amazon cargo plane crash in Miami that killed 5 workers in a van",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/what-to-know-about-the-amazon-cargo-plane-crash-in-miami-that-killed-6333372",
        "published": "2026-09-08T21:53:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}