Five Killed After Amazon Cargo Jet Overruns Miami Runway, Slams Into Vehicles and Erupts in Flames

MIAMI — An Amazon Prime Air cargo jet overran a runway while landing at Miami International Airport on Sunday afternoon, struck multiple vehicles and erupted in flames, killing at least five people and injuring five others in one of the most serious U.S. cargo aviation disasters in recent years.

The Federal Aviation Administration said 21 Air Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-300 cargo aircraft, overran the runway after landing at Miami International Airport around 2 p.m. local time. The aircraft had departed from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, before arriving in Miami. The FAA said it will investigate the crash.

Local officials said the plane struck multiple vehicles after leaving the runway, creating a chaotic emergency scene around the airport. Five people were killed, five others were injured and three of the injured were reported in critical condition. Officials said Sunday afternoon that it was still too early to confirm whether those killed were aboard the aircraft, inside the vehicles, or both.

The crash sent thick black smoke into the sky and forced first responders into a complex rescue operation. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue officials reported heavy flames and a fuel leak at the scene. More than 60 fire rescue units responded, and officials said the pilot and copilot were initially trapped in the cockpit while some occupants of vehicles also needed rescue.

The aircraft was operated by 21 Air, a cargo carrier working with Amazon Air. Amazon said it was gathering details and working with local authorities to determine what happened. The company said its priority was the safety, well-being and care of everyone affected.

Major Airport Disruption After Deadly Runway Overrun

The runway overrun also triggered major disruption at one of the nation’s busiest airports. Miami International Airport temporarily closed all runways and taxiways, while the FAA issued a ground stop. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned travelers to expect significant delays and possible cancellations as emergency crews worked the crash site and investigators began their response.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending an investigative team to Miami led by Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy. The FAA is also investigating. The cause of the crash has not been determined, and officials have not yet said whether weather, mechanical problems, runway conditions, aircraft performance or human factors played any role.

That caution matters. In the first hours after a major aviation accident, the public often sees dramatic images before investigators have recovered the full record. Video and witness accounts can show the aftermath, but they do not establish why a large cargo jet failed to stop on the runway. The NTSB investigation will likely examine flight data, cockpit voice recordings, weather conditions, landing speed, runway condition, maintenance history, air traffic communications and the sequence of events immediately before touchdown.

Amazon Air Network Faces Serious Scrutiny

The aircraft involved was a Boeing 767-300 cargo jet, a wide-body freighter type commonly used in express logistics and long-haul cargo networks. Amazon relies on contract carriers such as 21 Air to operate parts of its air cargo system, moving packages through major hubs and high-volume airport routes. The Miami crash immediately raises serious questions for investigators, but the answers will depend on evidence rather than early speculation.

The human toll is already clear. Five people are dead, several more are hospitalized and families are now waiting for official identification and answers. Officials had not released the names of those killed as of Sunday afternoon.

The crash also adds renewed scrutiny to large cargo operations around major American airports. Unlike passenger flights, cargo aircraft often operate at odd hours, heavy weights and intense delivery schedules. That does not mean the crash was caused by the cargo system, the operator or the aircraft. But when a freighter leaves a runway, crosses into nearby roads and strikes vehicles, the public has a right to expect a full explanation from federal investigators and every company connected to the flight.

For Amazon, the disaster is a major blow to its logistics network and public image. For Miami, it is a deadly emergency at a major gateway airport. For federal aviation officials, it is now a high-stakes investigation into how a routine cargo arrival from Puerto Rico became a fatal runway overrun.

Until investigators release more information, the central facts remain stark: an Amazon Prime Air cargo jet landed in Miami, failed to stop on the runway, struck vehicles and caught fire. At least five people are dead. Five more are injured. And the cause remains unknown.