Runway Horror: Five Killed, Amazon Plane Skids

A cargo jet overran a Miami runway, smashed into airport vehicles, and left five people dead on the ground.

Story Highlights

Federal officials say 21 Air Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-300 flying for Amazon, overran a runway in Miami after landing.
National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said the five dead were in a van and an SUV, not on the aircraft.
Authorities reported five people injured and a temporary ground stop as fire crews battled flames and smoke.
Investigators launched a field probe; the cause of the overrun has not yet been determined.

Runway Overrun Leaves Five Dead in Airport Vehicles

Federal Aviation Administration officials reported that 21 Air Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-300 cargo plane flying from San Juan to Miami for Amazon operations, overran the runway after landing around 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 6. National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said the aircraft struck ground vehicles, killing five people in a van and an SUV, and injuring others nearby. Officials said the fatalities were not onboard the aircraft, which came to rest amid flames and heavy smoke near airport facilities.

Airport authorities and firefighters responded fast as the scene burned. Reporters on site described the aftermath and the emergency shutdown of operations as responders worked to secure the area. Miami International Airport halted flights under a Federal Aviation Administration ground stop, closing all four runways before later reopening some operations once hazards were contained. Photos and video showed scorched debris and damaged vehicles near the runway end as crews cooled hotspots and searched for survivors.

What Officials Confirmed About the Aircraft and Operator

Multiple outlets aligned on core details: the flight number, the Boeing 767-300 type, the San Juan to Miami routing, and that 21 Air operated the aircraft within Amazon’s branded cargo network. That distinction matters. Amazon branding does not mean Amazon held operational control of the cockpit or maintenance. A spokesperson for Amazon said the company was gathering details and working with authorities as the National Transportation Safety Board began its on-scene work. Officials have not issued any fault findings for the crew, the aircraft, or airport systems.

The National Transportation Safety Board deployed investigators to the airport to document the wreckage, assess runway conditions, and collect data for a timeline of the landing and overrun. Investigators typically examine touchdown point, speed, braking, spoilers, reverse thrust, and the condition of the runway surface. Those factors often form a chain, not a single cause, in runway overruns. Early media reports varied on casualty details, which officials later clarified to focus on the vehicles that were struck, not passengers on the jet.

Safety Context and Airport Impact on Travelers and Workers

Runway overruns are among the most common runway incidents worldwide, and safety groups have warned about this risk for years. Analysts often point to approach stability, touchdown distance, braking action, and any tailwind as key variables in stopping distance. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration both approach these cases by collecting data before drawing conclusions, which helps avoid guesswork and fixes the root causes with evidence-based steps.

Miami International Airport felt the shock across its flight schedule. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop soon after the crash and closed all active runways, then allowed partial operations after responders contained the most urgent dangers. Travelers faced delays and diversions as airlines waited for clearance. Airport workers, including the vehicle crews in the movement area, carried the worst burden, with the five lives lost all coming from the van and sport utility vehicle that were struck.