Federal investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding a fatal runway overrun involving an Amazon cargo jet at Miami International Airport, an incident that killed at least five people. The Boeing 767, arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, veered off the runway around 2 p.m. Sunday, crashing into vehicles and igniting a fire.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are expected to focus on the plane's touchdown point, a critical factor in determining whether the pilots had sufficient runway to stop safely. Video footage suggests the aircraft remained airborne for a significant portion of the runway before landing. Aviation experts noted that if the plane landed beyond the typical touchdown zone, investigators will seek to understand why the pilots did not initiate a go-around.
The NTSB team, led by Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy, will also analyze the aircraft's speed, braking performance, mechanical condition, and environmental factors such as weather and wind. The flight was operated by 21 Air, a cargo carrier based in North Carolina. The 32-year-old aircraft, a converted passenger jet, had a history of foreign ownership, including a period with a Russian company, which investigators may examine.
Crash Details
The crash sent thick black smoke into the air and trapped the pilot and copilot in the cockpit. Several occupants in vehicles on a road adjacent to the runway were also trapped. Fire rescue crews worked to extricate individuals, including one trapped under a vehicle. Officials confirmed five fatalities, with three individuals critically injured and two others hospitalized with less severe injuries. It remains unclear if the pilots were among the deceased.
Experts state that the typical landing zone for an aircraft is within the first 3,000 feet of a runway. Landing beyond this point, without aborting the landing, could pose a significant risk. One aviation safety expert suggested that a tailwind, if present, could have contributed to the plane floating further down the runway if it had already missed the optimal touchdown zone.
Miami International Airport is not equipped with arresting systems, which are designed to safely stop planes that overrun runways. These systems, installed at over 120 airports nationwide, have been credited with saving numerous lives in past incidents. However, Miami's airport meets Federal Aviation Administration requirements, including a 1,000-foot safety buffer at the end of its runways, meaning an arresting system was not mandated.
The Prime Air plane came to rest near two semitrucks, appearing largely intact despite the fire. The incident caused significant disruption at the airport, with over 160 flights canceled and nearly 325 delayed by Sunday evening. Some flights were diverted to other airports.
Amazon stated it would cooperate fully with the investigation and expressed its condolences to the families of those affected. The company is heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in this incident. In a similar event last year, a UPS cargo plane crashed after losing an engine during takeoff acceleration, resulting in the deaths of three pilots and 12 people on the ground.