Key Takeaways

• At least five people died and five were injured after an Amazon cargo jet struck vehicles beyond a Miami airport runway.
• The FAA identified the aircraft as 21 Air Flight 7598, arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
• Federal investigators are examining the crash, and its cause remains undetermined.

By Samuel López | USA Herald

An Amazon cargo plane overran a runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday, September 6, struck vehicles and caught fire, killing at least five people and injuring five others. Three of the injured were in critical condition, authorities said. The disaster brought emergency crews onto airport grounds and nearby roads as Labor Day weekend travel was disrupted.

Watch here

The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft as 21 Air Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-300 freighter arriving from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The agency said the plane went beyond the runway after landing around 2 p.m. local time. FAA statement

Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz placed the crash at 1:58 p.m. and identified the landing strip as Runway 30. County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said five people were hospitalized. Authorities had not publicly identified those killed or injured in the Sunday updates reviewed for this report.

The emergency extended beyond the aircraft. Responders encountered people trapped in vehicles, while the pilot and copilot were trapped in the plane. More than 60 emergency units and approximately 200 personnel responded, and a fuel leak complicated work at the scene.

Although the aircraft carried Amazon branding, the flight was operated by cargo carrier 21 Air. Amazon expressed sympathy for the victims’ families and said it would cooperate fully with investigators. Keith Winters, 21 Air’s chief executive, also offered condolences and said the airline’s immediate priorities included helping those affected and assisting authorities. NBC 6 South Florida

The National Transportation Safety Board was sending investigators to Miami. No cause had been established in the initial reporting. The fact that the jet overran the runway describes the accident sequence; it does not, by itself, explain why the aircraft failed to stop.

Airport officials reported that two of Miami International’s four runways had reopened later Sunday. For the families awaiting information about loved ones, however, the most consequential questions remained the identities of the victims and the condition of those hospitalized.

About the Author

Samuel López has reported for USA Herald since 2022. A senior legal analyst, investigative journalist and legal researcher, he brings more than two decades of experience in the legal and insurance sectors to his coverage of litigation and public affairs.

Follow the Stories That Matter

Get reporting that examines the facts and explains their consequences. Visit USA Herald to sign up for our newsletterfor investigative coverage and legal, insurance and national security analysis. Follow USA Herald on X.