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'Multiple patients' after Amazon cargo plane crashes at Miami airport
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− 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 Investigators seek answers after Amazon cargo plane crash kills five at Miami airport An Amazon Prime cargo plane was landing at the airport around 2 p.m.
+ 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.
− ET on Sunday when it overran the runway, crashed and rammed into vehicles on the ground, according to FAA.
+ All those who died were passengers on the ground.
− National Investigators seek answers after Amazon cargo plane crash kills five at Miami airport Updated September 7, 20268:00 AM ET Originally published September 6, 20263:54 PM ET By
Chandelis Duster
,
Arezou Rezvani
An Amazon cargo plane is seen after it crashed at Miami International Airport on Sunday in Miami.
+ 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.
− Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption
Authorities in Florida are investigating a plane crash at Miami International Airport that killed five people and injured at least five others on Sunday.
+ 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.
− It was not immediately clear how many of those killed or hurt were on board the plane or on the ground.
+ The NTSB said Monday that five people were killed and five others were injured in the crash.
− The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the Amazon Prime cargo plane overran the runway while landing around 2 p.m.
+ The plane first hit a van belonging to a cleaning company used by the airlines, said NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy.
− Sunday.
+ 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.
− Rosie Cordero-Stutz, the Miami-Dade County sheriff, said that the plane came to rest in a field adjacent to the airport.
+ 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.
− Amazon said the plane was operated by 21 Air, a contract cargo carrier.
+ 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.
− Photos showed the plane off the runway in a parking lot, with its wings charred.
+ Officials investigate the scene where a Prime Air cargo plane overran the runway and crashed into other vehicles at Miami International Airport on Sept.
− The FAA said that Flight 7598 originally took off from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
+ 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.
− The Miami-Dade Aviation Department said in a statement that the plane overran the diagonal runway and is disabled at the northwest end of the airport.
+ 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.
− "What we found was a very complex situation here," Miami-Dade County Fire Chief Ray Jadallah told reporters on Sunday, adding that the airplane struck several vehicles and trapped victims who had to be extricated.
+ The aircraft, operated by 21 Air, was contracted to carry cargo for Amazon.
− He also said emergency teams were able to rescue the pilot and co-pilot.
+ 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.
− National Transportation Safety Board investigators said they were looking into all factors, from potential mechanical failure to environmental variables or flight crew performance.
Videos posted on social media of the touchdown show the cargo plane landing hard and fast midway down the runway.
+ The Miami International Airport is not equipped with the emergency stopping system, known as EMAS.
− There were also thunderstorms and winds in the area at the time, but it wasn't immediately clear if bad weather played a role in the crash.
+ "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.
− Officials at Miami International Airport said on Monday morning that two of the four runways were back open following a temporary groundstop, but cautioned that it was still dealing with the "impacts of this incident."
"Because of aircraft and flight crews not arriving at MIA due to the cancellations yesterday, we will continue to see impacts to operations throughout the day," the airport said in a notice on its website.
+ 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.
− "Passengers with flights scheduled today should check directly with their airline for flight status updates before heading to the airport."
More than 230 flights into and out of Miami International Airport have been delayed as of Monday afternoon, according to FlightAware.com.
+ 7, 2026.
− More than 70 flights have been cancelled as of Monday afternoon.
+ Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption
Homendy mentioned that 69 U.S. airports do have the stopping systems but the Federal Aviation Administration does not require it if the runway is longer than 1000 feet, which is the case for Miami.
− Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said in a statement on Sunday the company's priority is "the safety, well-being, and care of everyone involved."
"Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss," Nantel said.
+ 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.
− "We're working closely with local authorities and officials to learn more and will cooperate fully with any investigation."
NPR does not offer or accept money for coverage or interviews.
+ 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.
NPR does not offer or accept money for coverage or interviews.