NEW YORK, NY, September 12, 2026 — An Amazon-branded cargo jet skidded off the runway Sunday afternoon at Miami International Airport. The Boeing 767 crashed into two cars just on the threshold of the airport and burst into flames. County officials said five of the victims died and five other people were injured.
What Happened on the Runway
The jet overran Runway 30 shortly before 2 p.m., Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said, and video from the scene showed the plane skidding off the pavement and across a nearby road. It collided with a picnic table stall and at least one of several airport shuttle vans as well as an SUV from Toyota traveling outside the perimeter fence. Emergency management guidelines for airfield safety are maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration.
There were ten people in total involved in the crash, according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Raied Jadallah. Two others were reported in critical condition and three other patients transported to a trauma center. Two others incurred less serious wounds and were taken to a neighbouring hospital.
Pictures observed showed its nose-down and tail-up position. After the fire, scorch marks could be seen along the right side of the fuselage. In total, over 60 fire rescue units attended the airport crash scene. Regional emergency updates and public notices are issued by Miami-Dade County Government.
The Victims Were Down Below, Not Up Above
NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said all five fatalities were in the two vehicles that were struck. The impact tore the van, carrying seven members of an airline cleaning crew, apart. The SUV was struck on a road just outside the airport fence.
Authorities have not yet released the names of those who died. The crumpled wreckage of the plane was strewn across a muddy field and overgrown trees, Homendy said during a Sunday evening briefing. Fire crews worked for hours to clear wreckage and put out flames after the impact. Formal transport safety investigations are led independently by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava told reporters Sunday the number of injured people, alongside fire officials. She expressed gratitude that first responders arrived just minutes after the crash. Officials said grief counselors have been made available to families affected.
The Flight’s Final Approach
The plane, identified as Flight 7598 operated for Amazon’s Prime Air brand by 21 Air LLC, was on its third leg of the day, coming from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The 32-year-old Boeing 767 had previously flown from Cincinnati to Miami and back to San Juan earlier that day. Historical air traffic trends and operational logs are documented by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
Officials said the plane skidded off the end of the runway by about 1,300 feet before impact. The investigation is looking at weather, maintenance records and crew communications related to the descent. The NTSB is continuing its investigation, with the assistance of the Federal Aviation Administration.
This is not the first deadly incident involving Amazon-branded cargo flights in recent years. Three crew members were killed in the crash of an Atlas Air-operated Boeing 767 that occurred in 2019 while on approach to Houston. The flight was also transporting cargo from Miami to Texas for Amazon.
Airport Operations and Amazon’s Response
Flight-tracking data show that about 250 flights were delayed Sunday afternoon when officials closed the runway. Two of the airport’s four runways were still closed into Monday morning. Flight schedules stabilized by Sunday evening.
With this week being one of the busiest travel weeks in recent memory, Miami International Airport officials are advising passengers to check flight status before making their way to terminals. Cargo carriers that use the airport have diverted some flights.
In a statement, Amazon’s Kelly Nantel said the company was “devastated” by the loss of life. In a statement released on Sunday night, she expressed her condolences to the victims’ families. Due to the examination of the flight recorders this week, a more comprehensive investigation update from the NTSB is expected.
