Five Killed in Amazon Cargo Plane Crash at Miami Airport

At least five people have died after an Amazon Prime Air cargo aircraft overshot the runway and crashed while landing at Miami International Airport, turning one of America’s busiest cargo hubs into the scene of a devastating aviation disaster.

The aircraft, a Boeing 767-300 freighter operated by cargo airline 21 Air on behalf of Amazon, had arrived from San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it ran beyond the end of a diagonal runway shortly before 2 p.m. local time. After leaving the runway, the jet struck several vehicles on the ground before bursting into flames.

Emergency officials said five people were confirmed dead and another five were injured, including three who remain in critical condition. Rescue crews worked for hours to free victims trapped inside crushed vehicles and to extricate the pilot and co-pilot from the heavily damaged cockpit.

More than 60 emergency units and around 200 firefighters and rescue personnel responded to the crash, battling a large post-impact fire while containing a significant fuel leak around the wreckage. Thick black smoke was visible across parts of Miami as authorities sealed off nearby roads and suspended airport operations.

The accident temporarily halted all arrivals and departures at Miami International Airport, leading to widespread disruption across the aviation network. Hundreds of flights were delayed or cancelled before airport authorities gradually resumed operations later in the evening.

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched a formal investigation into the cause of the crash. Officials say they will examine flight data, cockpit voice recordings, weather conditions and whether the aircraft touched down too far along the runway before overrunning it. At this stage, no official cause has been determined.

Amazon expressed condolences to the families of those affected, saying its immediate priority is supporting victims and cooperating fully with investigators. Boeing and 21 Air also pledged assistance as authorities begin the lengthy process of reconstructing the final moments of the flight.

Miami International Airport ranks among the largest cargo airports in the United States, handling millions of tonnes of freight each year and serving as a critical gateway between North America, Latin America and the Caribbean. The crash therefore carries implications beyond the tragic loss of life, highlighting the safety challenges of high-volume cargo operations at major international

As investigators work to determine what caused the runway overrun, the disaster serves as a sobering reminder that aviation safety depends not only on aircraft reliability but also on runway infrastructure, operational procedures and rapid emergency response when seconds matter most.