The five individuals who died when an Amazon cargo jet veered off the runway at Miami International Airport have been identified. The victims were employees of Professional Ocean Service Corp., a contract cleaning company for airlines.
On Sunday, the Boeing 767 cargo jet was attempting to land when it overran the runway, striking two vehicles on airport property before crashing through a fence and destroying an SUV on a nearby street. Authorities identified the deceased victims on Tuesday as Rolando Aleman, 55; Yoel Rodriguez Naranjo, 53; Julio C Pineda, 75; Carlos Acosta Fajardo, 53; and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo, 47. All five were inside a van owned by Professional Ocean Service Corp.
"Our employees are far more than the people who work beside us each day; they are family, and they are deeply loved," the company said in a statement. "Our hearts and prayers are with every employee and every family whose lives have been forever changed. We grieve with those who lost a loved one and pray for the healing and recovery of those who were injured."
Three other individuals remain hospitalized. Eugenio Corredor, 79, and Ridoel Averhoff Diaz, 32, are listed in critical condition, while Roosevelt Sebastian Perdomo Torres, 36, is in stable condition. The plane's two co-pilots, Joseph Carroll, 55, and Jaime Filipe Silva Molina, 37, were released from the hospital, according to reports.
The Amazon cargo jet, which was arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, was on its third trip of the day. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.
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 crushable material at runway ends to safely stop aircraft that overshoot the tarmac. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chair stated that the plane had overshot the runway by approximately 1,300 feet.
Dispatch audio from the incident revealed emergency responders assessing the scene. "This aircraft overran the runway and crossed 67th Avenue. It struck a truck," one responder could be heard saying. "We do have a patient on the ground. We're looking at surveilling the area for more patients."