An Amazon cargo plane crashed after leaving a runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday. Five people died, and five others were taken to hospitals with injuries.
The plane overran the runway at about 2 p.m. after arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Miami-Dade County officials reported three critically injured victims.
Two other injured people were hospitalized with less severe injuries. The aircraft struck vehicles and burst into flames.
More than 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the crash. Firefighters found the aircraft on fire and worked to extinguish the flames. They also assessed the injured.
The Prime Air plane came to rest beside a roadway near two semi-trucks. Images from the scene showed it resting on its belly. The aircraft appeared largely intact despite the fire.
Flight disruption at Miami International Airport
About 250 flights were delayed late Sunday afternoon. FlightAware reported the disruptions on its flight-tracking website.
The flight was operated by 21 Air, a cargo carrier based in North Carolina. Flight-tracking site Flightradar24 said the aircraft was a 32-year-old Boeing 767.
Flightradar24 said the plane was originally built to carry passengers. It flew for several airlines for more than two decades before its cargo conversion in 2015.
Investigation into the Miami crash
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was gathering information about the crash. The agency did not provide further details in the source article.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said the company was working with local authorities and officials. She said they were trying to understand exactly what happened.
“Right now, our absolute priority is the safety, well-being, and care of everyone involved.”
Nantel shared the statement in a social media post. The source did not report any charges or arrests related to the crash.
What happens next in a cargo plane crash investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board investigates civil aviation accidents and incidents in the United States. Investigators gather evidence from the scene, aircraft records and witness reports.
Flight data and cockpit recordings can help investigators understand what happened before a crash. The agency may issue preliminary findings before publishing a final report.
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