Investigators Begin Work on Why Cargo Plane Overshot Miami Runway
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Investigators begin work on why cargo plane overran Miami runway
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Figure caption: Watch: Amazon cargo plane crashes at Miami airport
By Max Matza and Rafael Rojas, at Miami International Airport
Published 7 September 2026, 01:39 BST
Updated 38 minutes ago
Officials are investigating what caused an Amazon cargo plane to overshoot the runway after landing at Miami International Airport in a deadly incident on Sunday.
Five people were killed and five others seriously injured when the plane, which was operated by 21 Air, crashed just before 14:00 (18:00 GMT). The plane, a Boeing 767-300, crossed a road beyond the runway and hit several vehicles on the ground. It is not yet clear whether those who died were in the aircraft, on the ground, or both.
Members of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the federal agency investigating the incident, will brief reporters on Monday afternoon.
21 Air, a charter company based in North Carolina, stated they were "devastated by the accident involving one of our aircraft in Miami."
Both 21 Air and Amazon said they were cooperating with the investigation.
"At least five people have lost their lives, and five others are injured," Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava stated at a news conference on Sunday evening.
She added that rescue crews arrived at the scene within "seconds" of the crash. Three of the five injured were in critical condition, Miami Fire Chief Raied Jadallah said. Several of the injured were trapped inside or under vehicles on the ground, requiring extrication by fire and rescue crews, Jadallah added.
Over 200 firefighters responded after the plane burst into flames.
Experts who spoke to the Associated Press said video footage of the plane’s landing would present investigators with the question of whether or not the aircraft touched down within its designated zone on the runway—and if so, what happened.
All flights at the airport were temporarily grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The incident occurred over Labor Day weekend, one of the busiest travel times of the year.
Image source: Getty Images
Locals have described the aftermath of the incident. Grace Mercado told CBS News she was in a vehicle nearby when she saw the aftermath.
"The plane was up in smoke," she said. "It was just, it was like something from a movie. It was crazy."
Beth Tilman told the New York Times she had seen a black cloud where the plane had crashed and smelled an acrid stench.
"It wasn’t trees burning. It wasn’t mangroves burning. It was some other odour that I, honestly, had never smelled before," she said.
Flight data from tracking site FlightRadar24 shows that the Amazon cargo flight was traveling at 112 knots (129mph, 207km/h) as it exited the "useable runway." The site stated the plane came to rest near a car park serving an Amazon warehouse and other businesses.
There were light thunderstorms and gusting winds in Miami at the time of the incident, according to the site.
Kelly Nantel, Amazon’s Director of Corporate Global Media Relations, stated:
"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."
