FIVE DEAD AFTER AMAZON CARGO PLANE CRASHES AT MIAMI AIRPORT — BOEING 767 OVERTURNS RUNWAY, STRIKES VEHICLES AND ERUPTS IN FLAMES

A routine landing at Miami International Airport turned into a horrifying disaster Sunday afternoon when an Amazon cargo plane ran off the runway, struck multiple vehicles and burst into flames.

At least five people were killed and five others injured, including three who were critically hurt, authorities said.

The crash happened shortly before 2 p.m. on September 6, when Amazon Prime Air Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-300 cargo aircraft operated by 21 Air, was arriving in Miami from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The aircraft overran the airport’s diagonal runway before crashing into vehicles on the ground.

Within moments, flames and thick black smoke filled the area.

A MASSIVE EMERGENCY RESPONSE

More than 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units and approximately 200 emergency personnel rushed to the scene.

Firefighters encountered a burning aircraft and a complex rescue operation involving both the plane and vehicles struck after the runway overrun.

The pilot and co-pilot were initially trapped inside the aircraft, while at least two other people were trapped in vehicles hit by the plane.

Crews also had to deal with an active fuel leak as they worked to secure the crash site.

The Boeing 767 eventually came to rest near a grassy area of the airport, with heavy damage visible across the aircraft.

FIVE LIVES LOST

Miami-Dade County officials later confirmed that five people had died.

Another five people were injured.

Three of those injured were reported to be in critical condition, while two others were hospitalized with less serious injuries.

Authorities had not immediately released the names of those who died or clarified whether all of the fatalities were people on the ground, aboard the aircraft, or a combination of both.

Families were therefore left waiting for official confirmation as investigators began working to establish exactly how the disaster unfolded.

THE AIRPORT WAS THROWN INTO CHAOS

The crash prompted an immediate ground stop at Miami International Airport.

Flights were temporarily halted as emergency crews dealt with the wreckage and fire.

The disruption affected hundreds of flights, with numerous cancellations and delays reported as airport operations gradually resumed.

By Sunday evening, two of the airport’s four runways had reopened, but travelers were warned that significant disruption could continue.

For those at the airport, the scene was unlike a normal aviation emergency.

A huge cargo aircraft had crossed beyond the runway, struck vehicles and caught fire only moments after landing.

WHAT CAUSED THE CRASH?

That question remains unanswered.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has begun investigating the crash, while the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is also examining what happened.

Investigators will need to determine why Flight 7598 was unable to stop within the runway limits and what happened during the aircraft’s final moments before the overrun.

Weather conditions, aircraft performance, runway conditions, braking and other factors will all be examined as part of the investigation.

Officials have not announced a definitive cause.

AMAZON RESPONDS

Amazon expressed condolences to those affected and said the company was working with authorities following the crash.

The aircraft was operated by 21 Air on behalf of Amazon Prime Air and had departed from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan.

The tragedy has also brought renewed attention to the dangers surrounding cargo aviation.

In 2019, another Boeing 767 cargo aircraft operating for Amazon Prime Air crashed in Texas, killing all three people aboard.

But investigators have not suggested that the two incidents are connected.

FAMILIES NOW WAIT FOR ANSWERS

For the families of those who died, the investigation is only beginning.

Five people will not be going home.

Five others are recovering from their injuries.

And investigators now face the difficult task of reconstructing the final moments of Flight 7598 — from its approach into Miami to the moment the aircraft left the runway and slammed into vehicles below.

The cause may take time to determine.

For now, one thing is certain:

A normal Sunday afternoon at one of America’s busiest airports became a scene of fire, destruction and heartbreak — leaving five families mourning and many more waiting for answers.