A major aviation accident at Miami International Airport has left at least five people dead and five others injured after an Amazon cargo aircraft ran off the runway during landing on Sunday afternoon.
Prime Air Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-300 freighter operated for Amazon by cargo carrier 21 Air, overran the runway shortly before 2 p.m. local time after arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The aircraft crossed a road near the airport and collided with multiple vehicles before coming to a stop and catching fire.
Miami-Dade County officials said five people died in the crash. Five others were injured, with three reported to be in critical condition and two receiving hospital treatment for less serious injuries.
Pilot and Co-Pilot Trapped
The impact left the aircraft heavily damaged and resulted in a major emergency response. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Ray Jadallah said the pilot and co-pilot were trapped inside the cockpit, while people in vehicles struck by the aircraft also required rescue assistance.
More than 60 emergency units and approximately 200 personnel were deployed to the scene. Firefighters battled flames and dealt with a fuel leak following the crash.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of those killed.
Investigation Underway
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the accident. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy is expected to provide further details as investigators begin examining the aircraft, runway and flight data.
Investigators and aviation experts are expected to examine several factors, including where the aircraft touched down, its landing speed, wind conditions and whether the aircraft traveled too far along the runway before coming to a stop. Strong winds and storm clouds were reported in the Miami area around the time of the accident.
Officials have stressed that no definitive cause has been established.
Airport Operations Disrupted
The crash temporarily brought operations at Miami International Airport to a halt. More than 160 flights were reportedly cancelled and around 325 delayed, while some aircraft were diverted to other airports.
Two of Miami airport's four runways had reopened by Sunday evening, allowing operations to gradually resume.
Aircraft History Under Scrutiny
The aircraft involved was a roughly 32-year-old Boeing 767-300. It was originally built as a passenger aircraft and was later converted into a freighter.
The aircraft was being operated by 21 Air on behalf of Amazon Prime Air. Both companies said they were cooperating with investigators and expressed condolences to those affected by the crash.
What Happens Next?
Investigators will now examine the aircraft's maintenance records, flight data, cockpit information, weather conditions and runway circumstances to determine what led to the accident.
The NTSB investigation is expected to provide a clearer picture of the sequence of events in the coming days. Until that process is complete, the exact cause of the crash remains unknown.
