At least five people died Sunday afternoon when an Amazon cargo jet crashed after overshooting the runway at Miami International Airport and striking two vehicles. A survivor was miraculously pulled from the wreckage of one of the vehicles. The deceased were occupants of the two cars hit by the Boeing 767, according to Jennifer Homendy, CEO of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The plane, arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, was on its third flight of the day when it barreled off the runway. It first collided with a 2012 Ford van carrying seven contract airline cleaning company workers, then skidded into another car. The identities of the victims have not yet been released. The pilot and co-pilot sustained injuries, and their conditions are unknown.
Emergency responders arriving at the scene located a survivor inside a crumpled SUV. A police officer was seen attempting to communicate with someone inside before calling for rescue assistance. "We got one for you! He's alive!" the officer and another rescuer were heard shouting.
The NTSB has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. Preliminary findings from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) indicate that Miami International Airport is not equipped with an Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS). This system, installed at over 120 airports nationwide, uses beds of lightweight material to safely stop aircraft that overshoot a runway.
Homendy stated that the plane overshot the runway by approximately 1,300 feet. She emphasized that the NTSB's primary focus is on the recovery of victims and assisting their families. "Recovery of victims is most important," Homendy said during a press conference, describing the scene as containing fuel that required remediation. Fuel was being removed from the aircraft as recovery operations continued.
Disturbing dispatch audio revealed the immediate aftermath, with responders confirming fatalities and injuries using triage color codes. "This aircraft overran the runway and crossed 67th Avenue. It struck a truck," one responder stated in the audio. Another noted, "We do have a patient on the ground. We're looking at surveilling the area for more patients."
Firefighters reportedly ran out of water during the initial response as the plane burned, prompting requests for backup. Crews also conducted an extrication for a person trapped under a vehicle. A "green" patient, indicating minor injuries, was found separately.
Homendy confirmed that 32 investigators are assigned to the case, and the aircraft's flight recorder has been sent for evaluation.
