Black Boxes Recovered After Deadly Miami Cargo Crash

Investigators have recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from an Amazon cargo plane that crashed while landing at Miami International Airport, but the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) says recovering victims remains the immediate priority. Five people were killed and five seriously injured when the Boeing 767-300, operated by 21 Air, overran the runway shortly before 14:00 local time on Sunday. The aircraft struck navigational equipment, a white Ford van carrying seven people, and a Toyota Corolla with three occupants before stopping about 1,300ft beyond the runway. NTSB chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said investigators were still gathering evidence and could not yet determine the cause. The aircraft had two crew members and was arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, on its third flight of the day. Investigators will examine the plane’s flight history, crew training and experience, radar data, aircraft performance, systems, engines and the weather. They will also assess whether the runway should have had an engineered materials arresting system, or EMAS, designed to stop aircraft that overrun the runway. BBC Verify found that an active thunderstorm was near the airport before the crash, with wind gusts reaching 26 knots, although the NTSB has not drawn conclusions about the weather’s role. The agency is asking the public to submit photographs or videos that may help the investigation and says it will issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents. Two of Miami International Airport’s four runways remained closed, causing further disruption after cancellations affected aircraft and crew movements during the busy Labor Day holiday weekend. Amazon and 21 Air expressed condolences and said they were cooperating with authorities.

Investigators from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from an Amazon Prime Air cargo aircraft that overran a runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday. The devices, commonly known as black boxes, were being transported to the NTSB’s headquarters in Washington for analysis, according to NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy. The 32-year-old Boeing 767-33A, operated by Miami-based 21 Air LLC, reportedly ran approximately 396 metres, or 1,300 feet, beyond the runway while landing. It crashed into two vehicles: an Econoline van on airport property carrying seven members of an airline cleaning crew and a Toyota SUV travelling on a road outside the airport perimeter fence. Five people on the ground were killed, while officials reported that five others were injured, three critically. The aircraft’s pilot and co-pilot survived the crash. Homendy said they had not yet been interviewed as investigators began examining the circumstances of the accident. She was leading a team of 32 investigators at the airport and described the crash site as showing “utter devastation.” Homendy cautioned that the investigation was still in its early stages and that the NTSB would not determine a probable cause until the inquiry was complete. The recovered recorders are expected to provide information about the aircraft’s flight path, operating conditions and cockpit communications before the runway overrun. The article reports the immediate recovery effort and initial casualty figures but does not identify a suspected cause for the crash.

Investigators with the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from an Amazon Prime Air cargo plane that crashed while landing at Miami International Airport on Sept 6, 2026. The 32-year-old Boeing 767-33A, operated by Miami-based 21 Air LLC, overran the runway by approximately 396 metres and struck two vehicles, killing five people on the ground. One vehicle was an Econoline van carrying seven members of an airline cleaning crew, while the other was a Toyota SUV travelling on Northwest 67th Avenue beyond the airport perimeter fence. Five people were injured, three critically. The pilot and co-pilot survived, but had not yet been interviewed when NTSB chairwoman Jennifer Homendy briefed reporters. Homendy said the recorders were being sent to the NTSB’s headquarters in Washington for evaluation. She cautioned that investigators were still gathering and documenting evidence and that a probable cause would not be determined until the investigation was complete. A team of 32 investigators was examining the crash site, while crews continued removing jet fuel from the aircraft and surrounding area. Two of the airport’s four runways remained closed during the investigation, although flights resumed by the evening of Sept 7 after the airport had temporarily halted operations. Homendy described the crash scene as “utter devastation,” with tyre marks extending through the grass, widespread debris, a destroyed van and damaged vehicles. Reuters photographs showed the aircraft’s nose on the ground, its tail raised and apparent scorch marks on its right side. Investigators will also examine the significance of the runway’s lack of an Engineered Materials Arresting System, a device designed to stop aircraft that overrun runways. Homendy asked members of the public to submit photographs and videos that could assist the investigation.

Investigators have recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from an Amazon cargo plane that overran the runway at Miami International Airport, killing five people. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said the recorders could provide crucial information about the aircraft’s speed and the circumstances surrounding the crash. All five victims were in a van and an SUV outside airport property when they were struck by the Boeing 767. The van, owned by airline cleaning contractor Professional Ocean Service Corp., was carrying seven people. Homendy described the crash site as “utter devastation” and said the van had been “torn apart.” Three people were critically injured, while two others were hospitalized with severe injuries. Federal investigators are examining whether the aircraft touched down too late to stop safely. Video footage appears to show the jet remaining airborne well down the runway before landing. Investigators will determine the precise touchdown location, whether it was beyond the normal touchdown zone, and why the pilots did not abort the landing. They will also assess the aircraft’s speed, braking performance, weather and wind conditions, mechanical condition, and other possible contributing factors. The plane had flown from Cincinnati to Miami and then continued to San Juan, Puerto Rico, before returning to Miami. It overran the runway at about 2 p.m., crossing a road used by warehouse workers and businesses near the airport. The crash produced thick black smoke, trapped the pilot and copilot in the cockpit, and left people trapped in vehicles. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews also freed a person trapped beneath a vehicle. The NTSB said it would release additional information the following day, potentially including speed data from the recovered flight recorder.