At least five people were killed and five others injured after an Amazon Prime Air cargo plane overran a runway and crashed at Miami International Airport on Sunday.
The aircraft, operated by 21 Air, struck several vehicles before bursting into flames near the northwest end of the airport.
Amazon Prime Air Flight Overruns Miami Runway
Prime Air Flight 7598 overran one of Miami International Airport’s diagonal runways at approximately 2 p.m. local time.
The aircraft eventually came to rest near the northwest section of the airport.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to the scene as emergency crews worked to control the fire and assist those affected.
Five Dead and Five Injured in Miami Plane Crash
Miami-Dade County officials confirmed that five people died in the crash.
Five others were injured.
Three of the injured were listed in critical condition and transported to a trauma center, while two others were taken to a local hospital.
Authorities had not immediately released the identities of the victims.
Officials also had not confirmed whether those killed or injured were aboard the aircraft or inside vehicles struck during the crash.
Miami International Airport Temporarily Closes
The accident caused major disruption at Miami International Airport.
All runways and taxiways were temporarily closed following the crash, while a ground stop was also introduced.
Around 250 flights were delayed as airport authorities and emergency services responded to the incident.
Two of the airport’s four runways reopened by Sunday evening, although further delays and cancellations were expected.
Aircraft Catches Fire After Striking Vehicles
Video footage from the area showed thick smoke rising from the crash site.
The wreckage appeared to be located on a road outside the main airport area.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said emergency crews found the aircraft on fire after it had struck multiple vehicles.
The aircraft had departed from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, before arriving in Miami.
Cause of Amazon Cargo Plane Crash Under Investigation
The reason the aircraft overran the runway was not immediately clear.
The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to investigate the accident and determine what caused the aircraft to leave the runway.
Investigators are likely to examine the aircraft, weather conditions, airport operations and other factors that may have contributed to the crash.
Flight Delays and Cancellations Continue
The disabled aircraft and emergency response caused widespread disruption at Miami International Airport.
Numerous flights were delayed or canceled while authorities worked to secure the crash site and restore airport operations.
Additional disruptions were expected as investigators continued examining the scene.
Crash Recalls Earlier Amazon-Branded Cargo Accident
The Miami accident comes more than seven years after another Amazon-branded cargo aircraft was involved in a fatal crash.
In February 2019, a Boeing 767 operated by Atlas Air crashed near Houston while flying from Miami.
All three people aboard that aircraft were killed.
The 2019 accident involved a different aircraft and operator and was unrelated to Sunday’s crash in Miami.
The latest Amazon cargo plane crash at Miami International Airport remains under investigation as authorities work to determine the cause and identify those affected.
