Fatal Amazon Cargo Plane Crash at Miami Airport

An Amazon Air cargo plane crashed while attempting to land at Miami International Airport, killing five people and seriously injuring five others. The Boeing 767-300, operated by North Carolina-based charter company 21 Air, had departed from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It reportedly overshot Miami airport’s diagonal runway shortly before 14:00 local time and struck several vehicles on the ground before coming to rest near a parking lot serving an Amazon warehouse and other businesses. The aircraft caught fire, producing heavy flames and smoke. More than 200 firefighters responded, extinguished the blaze, and rescued people trapped inside or beneath vehicles. However, a fuel leak remained at the site. Three of the five injured people were in critical condition, while the others were hospitalized with injuries that had not yet been specified. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said rescue crews reached the crash site within seconds and emphasized that officials were focused on victims, their families, and the emergency response. Fire Chief Raied Jadallah said it was too early to determine the cause. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate and planned to hold a news conference. The Federal Aviation Administration ordered flights grounded as emergency crews worked at the airport. Many flights were subsequently canceled or delayed during the busy Labor Day travel weekend, leaving passengers frustrated and forcing some to stay overnight in Miami. Flight-tracking data indicated that the aircraft was traveling at 112 knots as it exited the usable runway. FlightRadar24 reported light thunderstorms and gusting winds at the time, but no cause had been established. Amazon expressed condolences and said it would cooperate fully with authorities. The BBC reported that it had contacted 21 Air but had not received a response.

An Amazon cargo aircraft operated by 21 Air crashed at Miami International Airport on Sunday after overrunning the runway while landing at approximately 2 p.m. local time, or 18:00 GMT. The Boeing 767-300 had arrived from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and struck vehicles before catching fire. Miami-Dade County officials said at least five people were killed, three were critically injured, and two others suffered less severe injuries. Authorities said it was not yet clear whether the fatalities were people aboard the aircraft or individuals in vehicles hit during the crash. The accident produced thick black smoke and trapped the pilot and copilot in the cockpit, along with some people in cars. The plane came to rest on its belly and remained largely intact despite the fire. Firefighters continued responding to a fuel leak several hours after the incident, while approximately 250 flights were delayed at the airport by late Sunday afternoon. The National Transportation Safety Board dispatched a team to investigate the runway excursion, while the Federal Aviation Administration reported the initial details of the accident. The aircraft was a 32-year-old Boeing 767 originally built as a passenger plane and converted for cargo use in 2015. Amazon expressed condolences to those affected and said it would cooperate with investigators. An eyewitness who operates an electronics store near the airport described seeing smoke rise near the airport fences after hearing the crash. The investigation is expected to determine why the aircraft overran the runway and whether any operational, mechanical, or environmental factors contributed to the accident.

An Amazon Prime Air cargo aircraft crashed while landing at Miami International Airport on Sunday, September 6, 2026, killing at least five people and injuring five others. Prime Air Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-300 operated for Amazon by cargo carrier 21 Air, had departed San Juan, Puerto Rico. Shortly before 2 p.m. local time, the 32-year-old freighter ran off the airport’s diagonal runway while traveling at approximately 207 kilometers per hour and struck several vehicles on the ground. At least two people were trapped inside vehicles hit by the aircraft, while the pilot and co-pilot remained trapped in the wreckage. Miami-Dade Fire Chief Ray Jadallah said five people were injured, including three who were in critical condition. More than 60 rescue units and approximately 200 emergency personnel responded. Crews were also managing an active fuel leak from the aircraft several hours after the crash. The airport temporarily halted all flights, although two of its four runways had reopened by Sunday evening. Photographs showed the plane resting with its nose on the ground and its tail raised, with scorch marks visible along its right side. The aircraft had previously served as a passenger plane for several airlines before being converted into a freighter. The National Transportation Safety Board dispatched an investigative team led by chairwoman Jennifer Homendy. Boeing and 21 Air said they would support the investigation, while Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said the company’s priority was the safety and care of everyone involved. 21 Air expressed condolences to the victims’ families. The crash is the latest fatal accident involving an aircraft operating for Amazon Prime Air. In February 2019, Atlas Air Flight 3591, another Boeing 767-300 freighter flying for Amazon, crashed into Trinity Bay, Texas, killing all three people aboard.