Amazon Prime cargo plane crash leaves five dead, five more injured at Miami International Airport
An Amazon Prime cargo plane overran a runway while landing at Miami International Airport on Sunday, September 6, leaving five people dead and five others injured. According to reports, the fallen aircraft struck multiple vehicles before erupting in flames. The Boeing 767-300, operated by 21 Air as Flight 7598, had departed from San Juan, Puerto Rico, before the deadly crash at around 2 p.m. local time. Federal investigators are now examining what caused the accident, one of the most serious aviation incidents at the airport in years.
Amazon Prime cargo plane crashes after runway overrun
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, 21 Air Flight 7598 overran the runway after landing at Miami International Airport on September 6. The aircraft had departed from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said five people were killed and five others injured. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said the hazardous crash scene involved an aircraft that struck multiple vehicles near the airport, with three injured people taken to a trauma center and two others transported to local hospitals. Videos circulating online show heavy smoke rising from an aircraft bearing the Amazon Prime Air logo.
Multiple emergency response units battle fire and fuel leak
More than 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) units and approximately 200 personnel responded to the scene, the MDFR said in a statement, adding that they arrived “to find an airplane that had stopped beyond the airport operational boundary with heavy flames and smoke showing.”
According to reports, firefighters encountered a complex engine compartment fire and used foam from specialized airport firefighting units to extinguish it. Rescue crews also searched the cockpit for the pilots and co-pilots, while another person trapped beneath a vehicle had to be extricated by specialized technical rescue personnel. Hazardous materials teams shut down the aircraft’s engine and worked to contain a fuel leak.
Amazon says safety remains its priority as investigation continues
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said the company is still gathering information and working with authorities to determine what happened. “Right now, our absolute priority is the safety, well-being and care of everyone involved,” Nantel said. “We’re doing everything we can to support those affected.”
The FAA initially said it would investigate the runway overrun, while the National Transportation Safety Board subsequently dispatched investigators to examine the crash.
Airport operations resume after ground stop
The crash prompted authorities to temporarily close all runways and taxiways at Miami International Airport.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, “We’ve issued a full ground stop at Miami International while first responders assess the scene after an Amazon cargo plane overran the runway. … If you’re traveling through the area, please expect significant delays and potential cancellations.”
Although airport operations later resumed, substantial delays and cancelations continued to affect travelers as investigators and emergency personnel worked at the crash site.