Amazon Cargo Jet Crash in Miami Kills 5; NTSB Probes Cause

Federal investigators are examining why an Amazon cargo jet barreled off a runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday, killing five people and injuring five others in a fiery crash that halted operations at one of the nation’s busiest travel hubs. The National Transportation Safety Board has dispatched a go-team led by Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy to Miami, with the first briefing on the investigation scheduled for Monday, according to AP News.

The Boeing 767-300 freighter, operating as 21 Air Flight 7598 on behalf of Amazon Air, overran Runway 30 around 2 p.m. after arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The aircraft plowed across a perimeter road used by warehouse workers and nearby businesses, struck multiple vehicles, and burst into flames. Five people were killed, three were critically injured, and two others were hospitalized with less severe injuries, officials said.

A Landing Gone Wrong

Video of the landing appears to show the aircraft remaining airborne well down the runway before touching down, raising questions about whether the pilots landed too late to stop safely. Aviation experts say investigators will focus on a crucial question: whether the plane touched down within the normal touchdown zone—the first 3,000 feet of the runway—and if not, why the pilots did not abort the landing.

“Did the aircraft land within the required touchdown zone? If it did, what happened?” asked Steve Arroyo, an aviation safety expert and retired United Airlines pilot.

Mary Schiavo, a pilot and former Inspector General of the Transportation Department, said video posted online shows the plane “floating” above the runway without flaring the nose upward to force the main landing gear onto the ground. “It didn’t touch down right away, and so it lost a lot of critical real estate by just continuing to float over the runway,” Schiavo told AP News. “It was literally still flying.”

Flight data from Flightradar24 shows the aircraft was still traveling at approximately 112 knots (129 mph) when it left the usable runway surface, according to AeroTime. The plane came to rest beside a roadway near two semi-trucks, appearing largely intact despite the fire.

Weather and Runway Conditions Under Scrutiny

Weather conditions at the time of the landing included thunderstorms, winds from 190 degrees at 17 knots gusting to 26 knots, and cumulonimbus clouds at 2,000 feet. While it wasn’t raining at the moment of touchdown, dark storm clouds loomed and strong winds were reported.

“A tail wind would certainly add to your troubles if you’ve already given up a good chunk of the runway by not touching down and landing right away,” Schiavo said.

Investigators are also expected to examine runway surface conditions and braking performance—an area where the NTSB pressed the FAA in May 2026 to revise its wet runway landing guidance after reviewing 11 overruns between 2008 and 2022. Miami International Airport does not have engineered materials arresting systems (EMAS)—beds of lightweight, crushable material at the end of runways that the FAA credits with helping save at least 497 lives at more than 120 airports nationwide.

A 32-Year-Old Aircraft With Complex History

The aircraft involved, registered N1997A, was a 32-year-old Boeing 767-33AER(BDSF) originally delivered to Belgian carrier Sobelair in 1994 as a passenger jet. It was converted to freighter configuration in 2015/2016 and entered service with 21 Air in January 2025, operating in Prime Air colors under the name “Amazon One.” The aircraft had a complex ownership history, including prior operation by a Russian company, which experts say investigators will examine closely.

21 Air, an all-cargo carrier based in Greensboro, North Carolina, began operating flights for Amazon Air in late 2024 and also flies for DHL Aviation. Amazon does not hold an air operator certificate for these flights; instead, it contracts with carriers like 21 Air.

Both pilots survived the crash but were trapped in the cockpit and sustained injuries. First responders had to extricate at least one person trapped beneath a vehicle. More than 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units and about 200 personnel responded to the scene.

Broader Safety Concerns

This marks the second US freighter accident in less than a year to kill people outside an airport perimeter. In November 2025, UPS Airlines Flight 2976 crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville, killing all three pilots and 12 people on the ground. It was also the second 767 cargo plane crash in Amazon’s Prime Air network, following the 2019 Atlas Air crash in Trinity Bay, Texas.

Witness Grace Mercado described the scene as surreal. “It was extremely loud,” she told CBS News. “It wasn’t anything that I’ve ever heard before. It was like a shake. Honestly, I can’t compare it to anything else.” She added: “The plane was up in smoke. It was just, it was like something from a movie. It was crazy.”

Amazon expressed condolences in a statement: “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.”

The crash caused significant disruption at the airport. More than 160 flights were canceled and nearly 325 delayed by late Sunday, according to FlightAware. A ground stop was issued at approximately 2:30 p.m. and lifted after roughly three hours, with two of four runways reopening and average arrival delays reaching about 6.5 hours. Some flights were diverted to Orlando International Airport, more than 200 miles north of Miami.

What’s Next

The NTSB go-team led by Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy is on site in Miami, with investigators expected to examine the aircraft’s speed, braking systems, thrust reversers, spoilers, anti-skid function, and landing weight. The aircraft’s maintenance history—particularly given its complex ownership background—will also come under scrutiny.

As the investigation unfolds, the broader aviation community will be watching closely for answers to the central question: what went wrong during what should have been a routine cargo landing? The outcome could have significant implications for cargo flight safety protocols and runway safety infrastructure at airports across the country.