At least five people have died after an Amazon Air cargo plane overran the runway and crashed at Miami International Airport in the United States. Five more people were seriously injured in the tragic accident, with three of them reported to be in critical condition. The Boeing 767-300 cargo plane lost control and veered off the runway while attempting to land around 2:00 PM local time on Sunday (19:00 GMT).
According to preliminary information, the aircraft had departed from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. During landing, the plane overran the runway and crashed into several parked vehicles at the northwestern end of the airport. Immediately after the accident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a temporary suspension of all flights at Miami International Airport. This incident occurred during the Labor Day Weekend, typically one of the busiest travel periods of the year for airports.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced at a press conference on Sunday evening that rescue teams arrived at the scene within seconds of the accident. She extended her deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and offered prayers for the swift recovery of the injured. The Mayor added that their primary focus is currently on treating the injured and on ongoing rescue and assistance operations. The injured were immediately admitted to local hospitals, but the detailed nature of their injuries is not yet known.
Miami Fire Chief Raied Jadallah confirmed that three of the five injured individuals are in critical condition. He stated that the plane caught fire and thick smoke was visible after the crash. Many injured individuals were trapped under the plane's debris or vehicles and were rescued with the help of fire and rescue personnel. Approximately two hundred firefighters quickly arrived at the scene and brought the fire under control, although reports of fuel leakage at the site are still being received.
Officials are not yet certain about the cause of the accident. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which investigates all aviation accidents in the United States, has launched a detailed investigation into the incident. The NTSB plans to hold a press conference on the matter on Monday. Airport authorities stated in a release that the Amazon flight, operated by a North Carolina-based charter company named 21 Air, lay disabled beyond the runway at the northwestern end of the airport.
Kelly Nantel, Director of Corporate Global Media Relations for Amazon, expressed deep sorrow in a statement. She said, “We are deeply saddened to hear of the loss of five lives in today's incident at Miami International Airport. Our deepest condolences go out to the affected families, loved ones, and all those impacted by this devastating loss.” She further confirmed that Amazon is working closely with local authorities and officials and will fully cooperate with the investigation.
According to data from flight tracking site FlightRadar24, the Amazon cargo plane was traveling at 112 knots (207 km/h) when it veered off the runway. The site stated in a blog post that the plane came to a stop near a parking lot used for an Amazon warehouse and other businesses. FlightRadar24 also noted that there was light lightning and gusty winds in Miami at the time of the accident. Attempts to contact 21 Air were made, but the BBC has not yet received any response from them.
