An Amazon-branded cargo plane overran a runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday afternoon, killing five people and injuring five others after striking multiple vehicles near the airport. The Boeing 767-300 aircraft, operated by 21 Air as Flight 7598, crashed just before 2 p.m. Eastern time while landing from San Juan, Puerto Rico, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The plane overran runway 30 and struck multiple vehicles before coming to rest in a field adjacent to the airport, Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said. Fire and rescue personnel worked to extinguish fires in the engine compartments and conducted a search and rescue operation to retrieve the pilot and co-pilot, who were trapped inside the aircraft. Three people in critical condition were transported to a trauma center, and two others were taken to a local hospital, Miami-Dade Fire Chief Raied Jadallah said.
All runways and taxiways at Miami International Airport were initially closed following the crash. Two of the four runways had reopened by later Sunday, and the airport was operating under a ground delay. More than 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the scene. Video from the site showed plumes of smoke rising from the wreckage.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it has launched a team to investigate the incident. The FAA and NTSB will determine the cause of the crash. Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said the company is working closely with local authorities and officials to understand what happened. Miami-Dade County has established a hotline for family members who may have been affected.