By Rajwa Quasim
Five people were killed and five others were injured after an Amazon cargo plane overshot the runway while attempting to land at Miami International Airport on Sunday. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the incident.
The plane involved, a Boeing 767-300, was operated by North Carolina-based charter company 21 Air. The crash happened shortly before 2 p.m. local time after the plane failed to stop within the runway boundaries. It rolled across an adjacent roadway and struck several vehicles before coming to rest near a park serving an Amazon warehouse and other businesses and catching fire.
None of the people who died had been publicly identified as of Sunday evening. It also remained unclear whether those who died were aboard the plane or were on the ground when the crash occurred.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said emergency crews reached the crash site within seconds of the incident. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will hold a news conference Monday.
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Officials said it was too early to determine the cause of the crash. A key question for investigators will be where the aircraft first touched down and what happened during its landing. Video footage of the landing could help determine whether the plane touched down within the designated landing zone of the runway.
Following the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily grounded flights at Miami International Airport, leading to widespread delays and cancellations.
Miami Fire Chief Raied Jadallah said three of the five people who were injured were in critical condition. He added that several people were trapped inside or underneath vehicles hit by the aircraft and had to be rescued by firefighters and emergency crews.
The crash occurred during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, Labor Day weekend. The plane was flying from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Miami.
According to data from tracking site Flightradar24, the plane was traveling at nearly 130 mph when it left the usable portion of the runway. CNN reported that the pilot did not declare an emergency before landing.
Investigators will examine the aircraft, flight data, weather conditions and other evidence to determine the exact cause of the crash.
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The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) estimated that about 17 million people would travel through U.S. airports during the week surrounding the Labor Day holiday, with around 2.3 million expected to fly Sunday.
An Amazon spokesperson said, “We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today’s incident at Miami International Airport. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss.”
21 Air and Amazon said they would cooperate fully with any investigation. 21 Air CEO Keith Winters said, “Our deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives. Our immediate priorities are supporting those affected, assisting the authorities, and ensuring that accurate information is communicated as it becomes available.”
Travelers also expressed concerns about limited information from officials and flight delays and cancellations, which forced some to change their plans and, in some cases, stay in Miami for another day.