Crash in Miami
An Amazon Air cargo plane overshot the runway while attempting to land at Miami International Airport on Sunday, crashing into vehicles and catching fire, officials said. The Boeing 767-300, operating as Prime Air Flight 7598, had arrived from Puerto Rico, departing from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, according to flight data and airport statements.
The aircraft struck multiple vehicles on a road surrounding the airport after leaving the pavement. Video footage showed thick black smoke billowing from the plane as fire trucks raced to the scene. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said crews arrived to find an airplane that had caught fire as a result of the crash, with heavy flames and smoke showing.
Casualties and Response
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said at a news conference that at least five people had lost their lives and five others were injured. She added that multiple individuals were transported to local hospitals with unknown injuries. Miami Fire Chief Raied Jadallah said three of the five injured were in critical condition, and that several of the injured had been trapped inside or under vehicles on the ground and needed to be extricated by fire and rescue crews.
Fire crews arrived within 30 seconds of receiving the emergency call, Jadallah said. More than 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units were on the scene. The mayor said the area remained an active scene and urged people to stay away. A hotline was set up for families of those who may have been involved, and Cava provided the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office number, 305-471-2400.
Airport and Flights Disrupted
Miami International Airport said in a statement that Prime Air Flight 7598 overran the airport's diagonal runway and was disabled at the northwest end of the airport. All runways and taxiways were closed as of 3:00 p.m., and a ground stop was in effect. The Federal Aviation Administration ordered all flights grounded, and the airport issued an air and ground stop preventing other flights from landing or taking off. The crash occurred over Labor Day weekend, one of the busiest travel times of the year, and passengers at the airport were frustrated by the lack of information, with many flights cancelled or delayed.
Investigation and Statements
Amazon said it was "working closely with local authorities and officials to understand exactly what happened." Spokesperson Kelly Nantel said in a statement, "This is a fast-moving situation and we're still gathering details. We're working closely with local authorities and officials to understand exactly what happened."
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was gathering information about the crash, and the Federal Aviation Administration is set to investigate. Officials said it was too early to know the cause, and that the investigation would be conducted by the NTSB. The reason the aircraft was unable to stop before reaching the end of the runway was not immediately known.