Amazon-branded plane crashes near Miami airport
A tragic incident unfolded outside Miami International Airport on Sunday afternoon when an Amazon-branded cargo plane crashed, resulting in the deaths of five individuals and leaving five others injured. The Boeing 767-300, operating as 21 Air Flight 7598, was coming in from San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it overran the runway while attempting to land shortly before 2 p.m. ET, as reported by a media source.
The aircraft veered off Runway 30, collided with multiple vehicles, and ultimately came to rest in a nearby field, according to authorities. Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz confirmed the details, emphasizing the severity of the incident.
Emergency responses were swift; three critically injured passengers were transported to a trauma center, while two others were taken to a local hospital for treatment, as stated by Miami-Dade Fire Chief Raied Jadallah. In light of the tragedy, a hotline has been established for family members seeking information regarding their loved ones who may have been involved.
As smoke was observed rising from the wreckage, officials reported that first responders encountered a complex fire situation, which involved flames emerging from the plane’s engine compartments. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava highlighted the rapid response from emergency teams, noting that over 60 fire rescue units were dispatched to the scene.
The fallout from the incident led to a temporary closure of all runways and taxiways at Miami International Airport. An airport spokesperson indicated that following a ground stop, two of the four runways were reopened by the evening, although delays were expected to persist into Monday.
In a statement, Amazon extended its deepest sympathies to the victims’ families and those affected by this calamity. The flight was operated by 21 Air, whose CEO Keith Winters expressed profound sorrow over the incident and affirmed the company’s cooperation with federal investigations.
Boeing, which manufactured the aircraft, conveyed its condolences, describing the plane as a model delivered in 1994 that had been converted for cargo use by a third party. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated an investigation, and both the NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will collaborate to ascertain the cause of the crash.
The tragedy underscores the risks associated with aviation operations and highlights the critical importance of ongoing safety measures in the industry.
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