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Five killed after Amazon cargo plane overshoots runway and crashes in Miami

From Arab Times · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Named sources Under investigation
  • An Amazon cargo plane operated by 21 Air crashed after overrunning the runway at Miami International Airport, killing five people and injuring five others.
  • The aircraft struck vehicles and caught fire, while emergency crews rescued people trapped in the cockpit and under a vehicle.
  • The cause remained unknown, and the crash canceled more than 160 flights and delayed nearly 325 others as the NTSB began its investigation.

An Amazon cargo plane barreled off the runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday, struck vehicles on a nearby road and erupted in flames, killing five people and injuring five others.

The aircraft overran the runway at about 2 p.m. after arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico. It crossed a road used by warehouse workers and other businesses surrounding the airport before coming to rest beside two semitrucks. Authorities said three injured people were in critical condition, while two others suffered less serious injuries.

The crash sent thick black smoke into the sky and trapped the pilot and copilot in the cockpit, Miami-Dade Rescue Fire Chief Ray Jadallah said. Crews also freed a person trapped beneath a vehicle. Around 200 emergency personnel responded, battling a complex engine-compartment fire with foam from specialized airport firefighting units. A fuel leak continued hours later.

The aircraft appeared largely intact despite the fire and was resting on its belly near the roadway. Officials had not determined the cause or established whether weather played a role. Thunderstorms and wind gusts reaching 30 mph were recorded in the area, according to the National Weather Service.

The flight was operated by North Carolina-based 21 Air. The 32-year-old Boeing 767 had originally carried passengers and flew for several airlines before its conversion to a cargo plane in 2015. More than 160 flights were canceled and nearly 325 delayed by late Sunday, with some diverted to Orlando International Airport. The National Transportation Safety Board sent a team led by Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy to investigate. Amazon said, “We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today’s incident at Miami International Airport.”

We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today’s incident at Miami International Airport.

· AmazonThe company expressed sympathy for those killed and said it would cooperate with the investigation.
About this summary

Originally published by Arab Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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