At least five people were killed, and five others suffered injuries after an Amazon Prime Air cargo jet overshot a runway during landing at Miami International Airport on Sunday afternoon. The Boeing 767-300 freighter, designated as Flight 7598 and operated by North Carolina-based 21 Air, had just completed a route from San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it barreled past the usable tarmac around 2 p.m. ET. The aircraft plowed across an adjacent roadway near local warehouse facilities, colliding with multiple ground vehicles and igniting a intense blaze that sent heavy plumes of dark smoke over the airport grounds.
Emergency response efforts escalated rapidly as more than 60 units and roughly 200 fire personnel converged on the disaster scene. Rescuers deployed specialized foam apparatus to battle a severe engine fire and mitigate an ongoing fuel spill while extracting individuals trapped inside impacted automobiles as well as the flight crew inside the cockpit. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Ray Jadallah confirmed the five fatalities alongside five hospitalizations, noting that three individuals were transported to a local trauma center in critical condition.
Following the crash, airport authorities implemented a full ground stop, suspending all taxiway and runway operations and prompting hundreds of flight cancellations and delays ahead of the holiday travel rush. While two runways were reopened by Sunday evening, ground traffic disruptions continued into Monday. Weather reports at the time of the approach indicated turbulent conditions with nearby thunderstorms and wind gusts reaching up to 30 mph.
Federal safety agencies, including the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), have launched an investigation into the disaster. Early technical analyses and landing footage suggest the aircraft floated unusually far down the runway before touching down, leaving insufficient stopping distance. Investigators plan to evaluate the jet’s maintenance logs, flight crew actions, braking performance, and prevailing wind conditions to establish why a go-around maneuver was not executed.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel issued an official statement following the tragedy: “We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today’s incident at Miami International Airport. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss. The airplane, which was operated by 21 Air, was attempting to land when this incident occurred. We’re working closely with local authorities and officials to learn more and will cooperate fully with any investigation.”
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