Five people lost their lives and five others sustained injuries Sunday when an Amazon cargo aircraft overran a runway at Miami International Airport, striking multiple vehicles before coming to rest in an adjacent field.
The Prime Air aircraft, operated by North Carolina-based contractor 21 Air, departed the runway under circumstances that remain under investigation. The crash triggered a ground stop lasting approximately three hours as emergency personnel worked to secure the scene and attend to casualties.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue deployed more than 60 units to the crash site near the 2100 block of Northwest 42nd Avenue. Chief Ray Jadallah characterized the situation as “very complex” when crews arrived to find the aircraft engulfed in flames and emitting heavy smoke. Firefighters employed foam and specialized airport firefighting equipment to combat the blaze while simultaneously conducting search and rescue operations.
Among the five injured, three individuals were transported to a local trauma center in critical condition. Two others received assessment and treatment at area hospitals. Authorities have not yet released the identities of any victims, nor have they confirmed whether those killed were aboard the aircraft or on the ground when impact occurred.
The fire rescue operations included extracting the pilot and co-pilot from the cockpit, though officials provided no additional information regarding the flight crew’s condition. Several people remained trapped in their vehicles following the collision and required extraction by specialized technical rescue personnel.
Emergency responders also addressed an active fuel leak from the aircraft, which posed additional hazards at the scene. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office assisted in the emergency response.
Commissioner Natalie Milian Orbis advised residents and motorists to avoid the vicinity of 67th Avenue and 25th Street. Officials emphasized that no ongoing threat to public safety existed beyond the immediate crash site.
Amazon confirmed its involvement and issued a statement expressing the company’s grief. Kelly Nantel, an Amazon spokesperson, stated the company was “heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today’s incident at Miami International Airport.”
“We’re working closely with local authorities and officials to understand exactly what happened,” Nantel said. “Right now, our absolute priority is the safety, well-being, and care of everyone involved.”
Amazon pledged full cooperation with investigative authorities examining the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration’s Air Traffic Control System Command Center issued the ground stop at approximately 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Greg Chin, communications director for the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, confirmed that two of the airport’s runways reopened following the incident, with the ground stop lifted after roughly three hours.
The investigation into what caused the aircraft to overrun the runway continues. Such incidents typically involve examination of weather conditions, mechanical systems, pilot actions, and runway conditions by federal aviation safety authorities.
The tragedy marks a somber day for commercial aviation and raises questions about cargo flight safety protocols at one of the nation’s busiest international airports.
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