A tragic incident unfolded at Miami International Airport (MIA) on Sunday when an Amazon Prime Air cargo plane overran a runway, resulting in at least five fatalities and multiple injuries. The aircraft, a Boeing 767, caught fire after colliding with several vehicles.
Details of the Miami Cargo Plane Crash
The accident occurred around 2 p.m. local time as the cargo jet, arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, failed to stop on the runway. Operated by North Carolina-based cargo carrier 21 Air for Amazon Prime Air, the aircraft veered off the tarmac, impacting vehicles and subsequently igniting.
Miami-Dade County officials confirmed that at least five individuals lost their lives in the crash. Three people were critically injured, while two others were hospitalized with less severe injuries. Authorities have not yet specified whether the deceased were on board the plane or in the vehicles struck by the aircraft.
Emergency Response and Aftermath
Miami-Dade Rescue Fire Chief Ray Jadallah reported that the pilot and copilot were initially trapped in the cockpit. Additionally, several people were trapped inside cars, and one individual was found trapped under a vehicle. Fire crews faced the challenge of a significant fuel leak for several hours following the crash.
Despite the intense fire, images from the scene showed the 32-year-old Boeing 767 largely intact but resting on its belly. The aircraft had originally been built as a passenger jet, flying for various airlines for over two decades before its conversion to a cargo configuration in 2015, according to aviation tracking data.
The incident caused substantial disruption at the busy international airport. Flights were halted for much of Sunday afternoon, leading to delays for approximately 250 flights by late Sunday evening, according to FlightAware.
Company Response and Investigation
Amazon issued a statement expressing profound sorrow. "We're heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today's incident at Miami International Airport," the company stated. "Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss." Amazon has pledged full cooperation with the ongoing investigation into the cause of the overrun.
Witness Jackson Lee, who operates an electronics shop near the airport, described hearing the crash. "We hear planes taking off and landing every five minutes. I thought I'd got used to it," Lee told The Associated Press. "I never thought it could come this close to us."