The Boeing 767 struck several vehicles after landing Sunday, leaving five others injured as federal investigators began examining the crash.
MIAMI, FL — At least five people were killed and five others were injured Sunday when an Amazon Prime Air cargo jet overran a runway while landing at Miami International Airport, struck several vehicles and caught fire, authorities said.
Prime Air Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-300 freighter operated by cargo airline 21 Air, had arrived from San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it went beyond the airport’s diagonal runway shortly before 2 p.m. Sept. 6. The crash shut down airport operations as firefighters, rescue crews and law enforcement officers converged on a complex scene involving the damaged aircraft, vehicles and a fuel leak. Federal investigators were expected to begin examining why the jet failed to stop safely.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Ray Jadallah said five people were taken to hospitals, including three who were in critical condition. The pilot and co-pilot were trapped in the aircraft after the crash, while other people had to be rescued from vehicles struck by the plane. Authorities had not publicly identified those who died or provided a complete accounting of where each victim was when the crash occurred.
More than 60 rescue units and about 200 personnel responded, according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. Emergency crews worked to extinguish the fire, reach trapped victims and control a fuel leak from the aircraft. The plane came to rest near the northwest end of the airport after leaving the runway and striking multiple vehicles.
The Federal Aviation Administration said 21 Air Flight 7598 overran the runway after landing at about 2 p.m. The agency identified the aircraft as a Boeing 767-300 cargo plane that had departed Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan. The FAA said it would investigate, while the National Transportation Safety Board sent an investigative team led by Chair Jennifer Homendy.
The 32-year-old aircraft had previously operated as a passenger jet before being converted for cargo service, according to flight-tracking information reported by Reuters. Flightradar24 said the aircraft was traveling about 112 knots, or 129 mph, when it exited the usable runway. Investigators had not determined why the aircraft overran the runway, and no official cause had been announced Monday.
21 Air operates the aircraft for Amazon, the company confirmed. Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said the company was working with authorities to understand what happened and was focused on the people affected by the crash. 21 Air also expressed condolences to the families and loved ones of those who died and said it would cooperate with the investigation.
The crash caused widespread disruption at one of the nation’s busiest airports. Miami International initially closed all runways and taxiways and imposed a full ground stop. Airport operations began resuming later Sunday, though passengers continued to face cancellations and significant delays. Miami International said two of its four runways had reopened while officials continued dealing with the disabled aircraft and the crash scene.
The accident occurred at a major U.S. cargo hub that handles extensive freight traffic between the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. It also marked another fatal accident involving a Boeing 767 operating within Amazon’s air cargo network. In February 2019, Atlas Air Flight 3591, another 767 carrying Amazon cargo, crashed into Trinity Bay near Houston, killing all three people aboard.
The NTSB investigation is expected to examine the aircraft, runway conditions, flight data, crew actions and other evidence before determining a probable cause. Authorities had not released the identities of the five people killed as of Monday, and investigators had not announced what caused Flight 7598 to overrun the runway.
Author note: Last updated September 7, 2026.