By TheDailyNewsHub
At least five people have been killed and five others injured after an Amazon Prime Air cargo aircraft overran a runway at Miami International Airport, struck several vehicles and caught fire on Sunday.
The aircraft, a Boeing 767-300 operated by 21 Air as Prime Air Flight 7598, was landing at the airport at about 2 p.m. local time after departing from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The crash triggered a major emergency response and temporarily forced the closure of all runways and taxiways at Miami International Airport, bringing arrivals and departures to a halt.
Aircraft crashes beyond runway
According to authorities, the Boeing 767 overran the runway and crossed a nearby road, where it struck multiple vehicles before coming to a stop and catching fire.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said more than 60 emergency units and about 200 personnel responded to the scene. Some people were trapped in vehicles after the aircraft crossed the airport boundary.
The two pilots were also trapped inside the aircraft and required rescue assistance.
Firefighters battled flames and dealt with a fuel leak following the crash, while emergency crews transported injured people to hospitals.
Three of the five injured people were reportedly taken to trauma centres in critical condition, while two others were treated at a local hospital.
Airport operations disrupted
Immediately after the incident, Miami International Airport closed all runways and taxiways and imposed a full ground stop.
The shutdown caused widespread disruption, with hundreds of flights cancelled or delayed. The airport later resumed limited operations on two of its four runways as emergency and investigative activities continued.
Travellers were advised to check with their airlines before heading to the airport because further delays and cancellations were expected.
Investigation underway
The cause of the crash has not yet been established.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it would investigate the incident, while the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into what caused the aircraft to leave the runway.
Investigators are expected to examine several factors, including the aircraft’s landing, runway conditions, weather and the possibility that the plane touched down farther along the runway than intended.
The aircraft involved was a 32-year-old Boeing 767 freighter. Investigators will also examine its maintenance and operational history as part of the inquiry.
Amazon and 21 Air respond
Amazon expressed condolences to those affected by the crash and said it was working with authorities.
The aircraft was operated by 21 Air on behalf of Amazon’s Prime Air cargo operation.
The incident comes several years after another fatal crash involving an Amazon-operated Boeing 767. In 2019, an Atlas Air Boeing 767 operating for Amazon crashed near Houston, Texas, killing all three people aboard.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of those killed in Sunday’s Miami crash.
The NTSB is expected to provide further information as investigators examine the wreckage and reconstruct the final moments of Flight 7598.
TheDailyNewsHub will continue to update this story as more verified information becomes available.