Date: September 7, 2026
Reporter: Emilly Jordan
Federal investigators have begun examining the circumstances surrounding a deadly Amazon cargo plane crash at Miami International Airport after a Boeing 767 overran the runway, struck vehicles and burst into flames, killing five people and injuring five others.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) arrived at the airport on Monday to investigate the crash, which occurred Sunday afternoon as Prime Air Flight 7598, operated by cargo carrier 21 Air, was attempting to land after departing from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft overran the runway at approximately 2 p.m. local time.
NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy described the crash scene as one of “utter devastation” as investigators began documenting the aircraft's path and examining the wreckage. The Boeing 767-300 travelled roughly 1,300 feet beyond the end of the runway before coming to a stop after striking several objects and vehicles.
Investigators said the five people who died were not passengers aboard the aircraft. They were on the ground in vehicles that were struck by the plane. According to the NTSB, the aircraft first hit a Ford Econoline van belonging to an airport cleaning company. The van was carrying seven people. The aircraft subsequently breached fencing and struck a Toyota SUV outside the airport property.
The impact caused extensive destruction and ignited a fire. Emergency crews responded with more than 60 fire-rescue units as firefighters battled the flames and dealt with a fuel leak. The aircraft's two crew members survived, although they were initially trapped inside the plane.
Five other people were injured in the crash. Three of them were reported to be in critical condition, while two others suffered less serious injuries and were hospitalized. Authorities have not immediately released the names of those killed or injured.
The NTSB has recovered both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, commonly referred to as the aircraft's black boxes. The recorders are being taken to Washington for detailed analysis, where investigators will examine information about the aircraft's speed, altitude, flight path, engine performance and other systems leading up to the crash.
Investigators have emphasized that it is too early to determine what caused the aircraft to leave the runway. The investigation is expected to examine several possibilities, including how and where the aircraft touched down, its speed during the approach, braking performance, weather conditions, runway conditions and the decisions made by the flight crew.
Video of the landing appears to show the aircraft touching down relatively far along the runway, raising questions about whether there was enough remaining distance for the Boeing 767 to stop safely. Investigators are expected to determine whether the aircraft's approach and landing were conducted within the required operational parameters before reaching any conclusions about responsibility or cause.
Another issue being examined is the absence of an Engineered Materials Arresting System, or EMAS, at the end of the runway. Such systems are designed to slow or stop aircraft that leave a runway by using specially engineered material that crushes under the weight of an aircraft.
Miami International Airport does not have an EMAS on the runway involved in the crash. Airport officials have indicated that the facility complies with federal safety requirements and has the required safety area beyond the runway. Investigators will nevertheless examine whether additional runway protection could have changed the outcome of Sunday's accident.
Weather will also form part of the investigation. Officials are examining conditions around the time of the landing, including wind and other atmospheric factors that could have affected the aircraft's approach or stopping distance. However, investigators have not identified weather as the cause of the crash.
The aircraft involved was a 32-year-old Boeing 767-300. It was originally built as a passenger aircraft and operated for several airlines before being converted into a cargo aircraft in 2015. It was being operated for Amazon's Prime Air service by 21 Air, a North Carolina-based cargo carrier.
Amazon said it was working with authorities and that its immediate priority was supporting those affected by the crash. The company expressed condolences to the victims and their families and said it was cooperating with the investigation.
The crash also caused significant disruption at Miami International Airport, one of the busiest aviation hubs serving the United States and Latin America. Airport operations were temporarily restricted following the accident, with one runway reopening later Sunday while authorities continued dealing with the wreckage and safety concerns.
The investigation is expected to take considerable time. NTSB investigators will examine the aircraft, review maintenance and operational records, analyze the black-box data, interview witnesses and crew members, reconstruct the aircraft's final moments and examine the airport environment.
The NTSB has deployed a team of approximately 32 investigators and specialists to Miami. Officials have also appealed to members of the public who may have photographs or videos of the aircraft's approach or crash to provide them to investigators, as such material could help establish exactly what happened during the final moments of the flight.
The tragedy has renewed attention on runway safety and the risks faced when aircraft are unable to stop within the designated landing area. While investigators have not yet determined whether the runway's design, the absence of an arresting system, aircraft performance, weather, crew decisions or another factor contributed to the accident, each possibility will be examined as part of the federal investigation.
For the families of those killed, however, the technical investigation is secondary to the immediate human cost of the disaster. All five fatalities occurred on the ground, making the crash a particularly devastating reminder that aviation accidents can affect people far beyond those aboard an aircraft.
The NTSB has not assigned a cause to the crash, and officials have cautioned against drawing conclusions before the evidence is fully examined. The recovery of the flight data and cockpit voice recorders is expected to provide investigators with some of the most important information needed to reconstruct the aircraft's final approach and determine why the Amazon cargo jet failed to stop on the runway.
Until that work is completed, authorities are treating the crash as an ongoing investigation rather than attributing blame to the pilots, the airline, Amazon, the airport or any particular mechanical or environmental factor.