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 Federal aviation investigators look into deadly Amazon cargo plane crash in Miami Federal aviation investigators are searching for answers following a deadly cargo plane crash at Miami International Airport Sunday that killed five people and injured at least five others. National Federal aviation investigators look into deadly Amazon cargo plane crash in Miami September 7, 20265:02 PM ET Heard on All Things Considered By Chandelis Duster Federal aviation investigators look into deadly Amazon cargo plane crash in Miami Listen · 2:58 2:58 Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed "> <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5960447/nx-s1-9917066" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript Federal aviation investigators are searching for answers following a deadly cargo plane crash at Miami International Airport Sunday that killed five people and injured at least five others. Sponsor Message Transcript
SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
Federal aviation investigators are looking into what caused an Amazon cargo plane to crash at Miami International Airport on Sunday. The plane overshot the runway while landing and then slammed into multiple vehicles outside the airport. At least five people have died and five others were injured. NPR's Chandelis Duster has been covering the crash and joins us now. Hi, Chandelis.
CHANDELIS DUSTER, BYLINE: Hey, Scott.
DETROW: The National Transportation Safety Board just gave a briefing this afternoon. Tell us the latest.
DUSTER: Yes, NTSB chair, Jennifer Homendy, said the plane landed and then left the runway. The plane first hit a van owned by a cleaning company that services the airport. We learned that there were seven people inside. She said the van was torn apart. The plane also hit an SUV, mangling the vehicle. But it's still an active recovery scene. Here is Jennifer Homendy.
JENNIFER HOMENDY: There's fuel everywhere. That will have to be remediated. But then they are also removing fuel from the aircraft. So we have to allow that to occur. And as we speak, recovery operations continue.
DUSTER: Homendy would not update on the status of the pilot or copilot but said they will be scheduling interviews.
DETROW: One thing people have been pointing to is that Miami International Airport is not equipped with an emergency stopping system that can safely stop planes that go past the end of the runways. Did that come up with the NTSB today?
DUSTER: Yes, Homendy said what's known as the EMAS system will be part of this investigation. But she didn't add anything further. I should explain that the EMAS system is designed to stop an aircraft before it exits the end of the runway. It's lightweight, crushable material that forces a plane to slow down. Earlier today, I spoke with Gregory Feith, a former senior air safety investigator at the NTSB, who said, in this case, he believes an EMAS system would have saved lives.
GREGORY FEITH: EMAS systems are expensive, but not so expensive that an airport can't afford it. Accidents and incidents like this usually spawn a debate, a discussion and actually an installation of systems like this.
DUSTER: I reached out to the Federal Aviation Administration about why the airport does not use EMAS systems, but I have not received a response yet.
DETROW: And this happened on a holiday weekend where a lot of people are traveling. What is the situation at the airport right now?
DUSTER: The crash has caused significant delays, as you can imagine, flight cancellations and long lines at the airport. I can tell you that at the moment, two of Miami's four runways remain closed, and we don't know when they might reopen. But obviously, today is a busy travel day, with people trying to get home after the holiday. It's one of the busiest of the entire year. And I should note that there are hundreds of flights that have been delayed and canceled today.
DETROW: That is NPR's Chandelis Duster. Thank you so much.
DUSTER: Thank you. Copyright © 2026 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Accuracy and availability of NPR transcripts may vary. Transcript text may be revised to correct errors or match updates to audio. Audio on npr.org may be edited after its original broadcast or publication. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record. 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. Facebook Flipboard Email Read & Listen Home News Culture Music Podcasts & Shows Connect Newsletters Facebook Instagram Press Public Editor Corrections Transcripts Contact & Help About NPR Overview Diversity NPR Network Accessibility Ethics Finances Get Involved Support Public Radio Sponsor NPR NPR Careers NPR Shop NPR Extra Terms of Use Privacy Your Privacy Choices Text Only Sponsor Message Sponsor Message Become an NPR sponsor (function () { var loadPageJs = function () { (window.webpackJsonp=window.webpackJsonp||[]).push([[22],{312:function(e,n,o){o.p=NPR.serverVars.webpackPublicPath,Promise.all([o.e(1),o.e(2),o.e(3),o.e(4),o.e(80)]).then((e=>{o(15),o(770),o(156),o(177),o(95),o(449),o(256),o(131),o(133),o(756),o(176),o(757),o(257),o(80),o(775)}).bind(null,o)).catch(o.oe)},784:function(e,n,o){e.exports=o(312)}},[[784,0]]]); }; if (document.readyState === 'complete') { loadPageJs(); } else { window.addEventListener('load', function load() { window.removeEventListener('load', load, false); loadPageJs(); }); } })();