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Amazon Cargo Plane Overruns Miami Runway, Sparks Emergency Response
Confirmed
In Short: A Boeing 767-300 aircraft operated by Amazon overran the runway at Miami International Airport, causing multiple injuries and a major emergency response.
A Boeing 767-300 cargo plane operated by Amazon overran the runway at Miami International Airport shortly after landing from San Juan, Puerto Rico, at 2pm ET (6pm GMT), according to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Multiple vehicles were struck by the plane, which caught fire after the crash, according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. The incident has disrupted one of the country's busiest airports and prompted a full ground stop, with travelers anticipating significant delays.
An Amazon spokesperson stated, 'We are working closely with local authorities and officials to understand exactly what happened,' as the company investigates the cause of the incident. The aircraft, identified as N1997A, had been a passenger aircraft for over two decades before being repurposed as a cargo carrier in 2015, according to flight-tracking site Flightradar24.
Five people were killed in the crash, and five others were injured, with three of the injured in critical condition, according to Miami-Dade County officials. The pilot and copilot were also trapped in the plane. Fire crews were dealing with a fuel leak on the plane several hours after the incident.
US Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, 'We are working closely with local authorities and officials to understand exactly what happened,' as he urged travelers to anticipate significant delays. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of cargo operations at the airport.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- It’s not clear how many crew members or passengers were on board the plane.
- Early reports indicated that the aircraft veered off the runway and crossed a road near the airport.
- His comments come nearly a week into renewed fighting between Iran and the US, and a day after Washington said it struck Iranian oil tankers in response to Tehran attacking American warships in the region's waters.
- US Central Command released footage on Saturday showing strikes on Iran-linked tankers Iran's top negotiator has warned of "a faster, heavier, and more painful response" to US attacks, as hostilities between the two sides escalate.
- Heavy black smoke and flames were reported from the aircraft as emergency crews responded.
- Some social-media accounts are claiming fatalities, including reports of four deaths, but Cedar News has not found official confirmation of any death toll from the FAA, airport authorities or emergency officials.
- The cargo aircraft reportedly continued beyond the end of Runway 30 after landing and came to rest outside the paved runway area near airport infrastructure.
- Air traffic restrictions were imposed around Miami as authorities worked to secure the affected area and manage airport operations.