Flight recorders recovered from ‘devastating’ Amazon cargo plane crash
Six hours ago
Jessica Rawnsley
Homendy: ‘In the van were seven persons’
Investigators have recovered the flight recorders from the Amazon cargo plane that crashed at Miami International Airport, but the priority remains the recovery of victims, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Five people lost their lives and five others sustained serious injuries when the Boeing 767-300, operated by 21 Air, veered off the runway shortly before 2:00 p.m. local time (7:00 p.m. BST) on Sunday. The plane struck two vehicles, including a white van carrying seven individuals within the airport perimeter, and a Toyota with three passengers.
NTSB chairwoman Jennifer Homendy noted that it’s too early to determine the cause of the crash, as investigators are still in the "fact-finding stage." She shared details about the plane’s route and condition at the time of landing. The aircraft had two crew members on board and was arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, on its third flight of the day.
The plane collided with navigational aids and equipment after overrunning the runway, then hit a white Ford van owned by a contract cleaning company. It went through a perimeter fence and collided with a Toyota Corolla, coming to rest about 1,300 feet (394 meters) beyond the runway.
Homendy described the crash scene as "devastating," with aircraft debris, vehicle parts, and airport fencing scattered across the area. She emphasized that recovering victims’ bodies is the immediate priority, stating, "The investigation and access to the aircraft, as well as evidence, can wait."
The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered and sent to NTSB headquarters for analysis. Homendy expressed that while investigators will examine the plane’s systems, engines, weather conditions, and runway design, it’s too early to draw any significant conclusions about the cause of the crash.
The NTSB has requested that members of the public share any relevant photos or videos from the time of the incident.
