Amazon cargo plane overruns runway in Miami, killing five

An Amazon cargo Boeing 767 left the runway after landing at Miami International Airport, struck several vehicles and caught fire, killing at least five people and injuring five others.

The Prime Air 7598 flight, operated by cargo carrier 21 Air, had departed from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It reached Miami at about 2 p.m. local time. The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft as a more than 32-year-old Boeing 767-300.

“

A very complex situation.

The aircraft ended up at the airport’s northwest end. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said crews found it engulfed in flames and producing a heavy column of smoke. More than 60 units and nearly 200 firefighters took part in firefighting and rescue work.

“

We are working closely with authorities and local officials to understand exactly what happened.

Three of the five injured people were taken to trauma centers in critical condition. The other two received treatment at a local hospital. Authorities initially did not say whether the pilot or co-pilot were among the victims. Several people remained trapped in vehicles hit by the aircraft, and specialized teams carried out extraction operations.

Miami-Dade Fire Chief Raied Jadallah described the response as “a very complex situation.” Amazon confirmed that 21 Air operated the aircraft and said, “We are working closely with authorities and local officials to understand exactly what happened.” The crash initially closed every runway and taxiway at Miami International. By about 5:15 p.m., two of the airport’s four runways had reopened. Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz called it “a truly tragic scene” and said there appeared to be no threat to public safety.

“

A truly tragic scene.