Accessibility links Skip to main content Keyboard shortcuts for audio player Open Navigation Menu --> Newsletters NPR Shop Get NPR+ Close Navigation Menu Home News Expand/collapse submenu for News National World Politics Business Health Science Climate Race Culture Expand/collapse submenu for Culture Books Movies Television Pop Culture Food Art & Design Performing Arts Life Kit Gaming Music Expand/collapse submenu for Music Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions Podcasts & Shows Expand/collapse submenu for Podcasts & Shows Daily Morning Edition Weekend Edition Saturday Weekend Edition Sunday All Things Considered Up First Here & Now NPR Politics Podcast Featured Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! Fresh Air Wild Card with Rachel Martin It's Been a Minute Embedded Get NPR+ More Podcasts & Shows Search Newsletters NPR Shop Get NPR+ Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions About NPR Diversity Support Careers Press Ethics Scene at Miami airport where five died described as 'utter devastation' An Amazon Prime cargo plane overran the runway, crashed and rammed into vehicles, where it then caught on fire. All those who died were passengers on the ground. National Scene at Miami airport where five died described as 'utter devastation' Updated September 7, 202610:54 PM ET Originally published September 6, 20263:54 PM ET By
Martha Ann Overland
An Amazon cargo plane is seen after it crashed at Miami International Airport on Sunday in Miami. The Federal Aviation Administration said Prime Air Flight 7598 overran the runway while landing around 2 p.m. ET after departing from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption
The people who died when an Amazon cargo plane went off the runway at the Miami International Airport on Sunday were all passengers of vehicles on the ground, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
The NTSB said Monday that five people were killed and five others were injured in the crash.
The plane first hit a van belonging to a cleaning company used by the airlines, said NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy. She described the van as being "torn apart."
The Boeing 767 continued on, mowing down a fence, and crossing a public road where it hit an SUV. The plane stopped just before hitting parked cars.
Homendy did not share an update on the pilot and co-pilot, but video posted by the local NBC station showed a pilot jumping from the plane, shortly after the crash. The NTSB says it plans to interview them soon.
Homendy said she visited the crash scene and that it was "utter devastation."
"You can see the surrounding airbags, you can see the components from vehicles, both passenger vehicles and the aircraft itself," she said. "It's pretty extensive."
Homendy said a fuel leak has slowed initial recovery efforts, but added the NTSB would work to return the remains of the victims to their families as soon as it was safe to do so.
Officials investigate the scene where a Prime Air cargo plane overran the runway and crashed into other vehicles at Miami International Airport on Sept. 6, 2026. Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
NTSB investigators said they were looking into all factors, from potential mechanical failure to environmental variables or flight crew performance. The flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder have been recovered.
Videos posted on social media of the touchdown show the cargo plane landing hard and fast midway down the runway. There were also thunderstorms and winds in the area at the time, but the NTSB said it was too early to tell if weather played a role in the crash.
The aircraft, operated by 21 Air, was contracted to carry cargo for Amazon. Flight 7598 originally took off from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The NTSB said it was the plane's third flight of the day.
The Miami International Airport is not equipped with the emergency stopping system, known as EMAS. "Engineered Material Arresting Systems" are designed to slow and stop an aircraft before it exits the end of the runway and the FAA says that they have played a role in safely stopping aircraft in runway overruns. EMAS systems are made of lightweight, crushable materials that force a plane to slow down, somewhat akin to sinking in mud.
Jennifer Homendy, chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board, holds a press conference on the investigation into the Amazon Cargo plane crash at Miami International Airport on Sept. 7, 2026. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption
Homendy mentioned that some 70 U.S. airports do have the stopping systems but the Federal Aviation Administration does not require them if there is a 1,000-foot runway safety area, which is the case for Miami.
The FAA credits EMAS with slowing and stopping flights carrying nearly 500 crew and passengers.
As of Monday evening, two of the four runways remain closed. Officials say they won't reopen until the investigation is concluded.
"Cancellations continue due to aircraft and flight crews not having arrived," the airport said in a notice on its website. "Passengers with flights scheduled today should check directly with their airline for flight status updates before heading to the airport."
Hundreds of flights into and out of Miami International Airport have been delayed or cancelled as of Monday afternoon, according to FlightAware.com.
The NTSB said it will hold another briefing on the investigation into the crash on Tuesday.
A previous version of this story incorrectly said that an Engineered Material Arresting System is not required if a runway is longer than 1,000 feet. In fact, one is not required if there is a 1,000-foot runway safety area.
NPR does not offer or accept money for coverage or interviews. Anyone who makes such an offer or request is not an NPR employee and does not represent NPR.
Sponsor Message
Become an NPR sponsor