Boeing 767 operated by 21 Air struck several vehicles after leaving the runway, prompting a massive emergency response and temporarily shutting down the airport
MIAMI An Amazon Prime Air cargo plane overran a runway at Miami International Airport Sunday afternoon, struck several vehicles and caught fire, sending thick black smoke into the air and temporarily stopping flights at one of the busiest airports in the United States.
The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft as 21 Air Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-300 cargo plane operating for Amazon Prime Air. The FAA said the aircraft overran the runway at about 2 p.m. after arriving from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Flight tracking information shows the aircraft arrived in Miami shortly before 2 p.m.
Miami International Airport initially said, “Prime Air flight 7598 overran Miami International Airport’s diagonal runway and is disabled at the northwest end of the airport.” The airport said all runways and taxiways were closed and a full ground stop was put in place while emergency crews responded. That statement came from the airport, while Miami-Dade Fire Rescue separately confirmed the fire and emergency response.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said the aircraft continued beyond the runway and struck multiple vehicles near the 2100 block of Northwest 42nd Avenue. More than 60 fire-rescue units were sent to the scene. Fire officials said crews arrived to find the aircraft burning with heavy flames and smoke. Firefighters worked to put out the fire while also treating and evaluating people involved in the crash.
Officials confirmed there were multiple patients, but authorities had not released an exact number of injured people or information about their conditions as of late Sunday afternoon. No confirmed death toll had been announced. Images from the scene showed the aircraft resting on its belly near a roadway and close to large trucks.
Witness reports that the aircraft became engulfed in flames were supported by videos from the scene and statements from fire officials. Large clouds of black smoke could be seen rising from the aircraft as firefighters worked around it. Officials have not yet said whether the fire began before the plane left the runway or after the aircraft struck vehicles and came to a stop.
Amazon confirmed that the aircraft was operating as part of its air cargo network. Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said the company was still gathering information and working with authorities to determine what happened. She said Amazon’s main concern was the safety and care of everyone involved.
The aircraft was operated by 21 Air, a U.S. cargo airline headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina. The company operates Boeing 767 freighters and lists Amazon Prime Air among its customers. Like other large delivery companies, Amazon uses outside airlines to operate some aircraft in its cargo network rather than directly flying every plane itself.
The crash caused major delays at Miami International Airport. The FAA issued a ground stop during the emergency, and airport officials closed all runways and taxiways. The Associated Press reported that operations were expected to resume at a reduced rate after the airport reopened, while delays were likely to continue. About 250 flights had been delayed by late afternoon.
The FAA will investigate the runway overrun, while the National Transportation Safety Board said it was gathering information about the accident. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, runway conditions, weather, flight data and crew actions before determining a probable cause. No official cause had been announced Sunday afternoon.
This remains a developing story, and casualty information could change as emergency crews complete their work and investigators reach the vehicles and aircraft involved.
