Amazon has suspended its operations with cargo carrier 21 Air following a deadly crash at Miami International Airport last week. The incident resulted in five fatalities and five injuries.
"After the tragic incident last weekend, we’ve spent time supporting the investigation and reviewing some of the surrounding circumstances, and we’ve decided to pause our operations with 21 Air, the operator of Flight 7598," Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said in a statement Sunday. "We’ll continue working to support the investigation and everyone affected."
Amazon's cargo flights are operated by a number of direct air carrier partners, including 21 Air, according to the company's website.
On September 6, the 21 Air-operated Amazon cargo plane overran the runway by approximately 1,300 feet during its landing at Miami International Airport. Federal investigators reported that the aircraft struck a van carrying seven people and then another vehicle before coming to a halt in a field.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is investigating the crash, released details from the cockpit voice recorder in the days following the incident. The recording revealed that approximately one minute and 42 seconds before the crash, a pilot warned that the plane was traveling too fast. Comments about the aircraft's "excessive speed" were made throughout the remainder of the recording.
About 30 seconds before impact, sounds indicative of the aircraft touching down were captured. However, approximately 15 seconds later, a pilot initiated a "go-around" maneuver to abort the landing. The plane had veered off the runway just five seconds after that.
The five individuals who died in the crash were identified by the Miami-Dade County Sheriff's Office as Rolando Aleman Leon, 55; Yoel Rodriguez Narajo, 53; Julio C. Pineda, 75; Carlos Acosta Fajardo, 53; and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo, 47. The two pilots on board the aircraft sustained injuries that led to their release from the hospital, while three other individuals remained hospitalized, with two in critical condition and one in stable condition.
In response to Amazon's decision, 21 Air stated that its primary focus remains on supporting the families impacted by the accident. The carrier also affirmed its commitment to working closely with the NTSB and its partners, like Amazon, during the ongoing investigation. The company expressed confidence in its safety policies, procedures, and training.