Amazon Jet Overruns Miami Runway, Killing Five

Federal crash investigators say the Amazon cargo jet came in too fast and overran Miami’s runway, killing five people on the ground.

Story Snapshot

National Transportation Safety Board says landing was unstable and fast before the overrun.
Five people in a cleaning van were killed; five others were injured, officials said.
Flight data shows throttles went to full power seconds before the crash.
Investigators recovered both black boxes and are reviewing weather, braking, and crew actions.

What Investigators Confirmed About the Crash

National Transportation Safety Board officials said the Amazon Air cargo plane, a Boeing 767-33A operated by 21 Air, overran Runway 30 at Miami International Airport at about 1:53 p.m. Eastern time on February 15, 2024. The jet arrived from San Juan, Puerto Rico, as Amazon Air Flight 7598. Federal Aviation Administration officials also described the event as a runway overrun during landing. The aircraft left the paved surface and struck vehicles near the airport perimeter before catching fire.

Officials reported five people died and five were injured. The victims who died were inside a cleaning company van with seven occupants, according to the National Transportation Safety Board chair, who also noted an additional vehicle outside airport property was hit. Three of the injured remained in the hospital in the early days after the crash, including two in critical condition, according to briefings summarized by national outlets. First responders faced a large fire and heavy smoke as they worked the scene.

Key Evidence From Flight Data and Cockpit Recorders

National Transportation Safety Board investigators recovered the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder soon after the crash and began analysis. Early data showed the throttles moved to full power seconds before the overrun, which can indicate an attempt to go around from a late or unstable landing. Investigators also said they are examining whether the flight was too fast on approach, and whether deceleration devices, braking, and runway conditions affected stopping distance. The agency has not assigned a probable cause.

Agency briefings and media coverage describe a pattern seen in many runway excursions. Landings that are fast, long, or unstable leave less runway to stop. Wet or slick surfaces can further reduce tire friction. A National Transportation Safety Board study found that most overruns they reviewed involved low runway friction from rainfall, combined at times with pilot errors like landing too fast or delaying braking. The Miami case is being reviewed across these same factors.

How the Overrun Happened on the Ground

After leaving the runway, the cargo jet crossed airport areas and struck multiple vehicles near the perimeter. The impact killed five people in a cleaning van and damaged an additional vehicle outside airport property, officials said. Miami-Dade emergency teams reported a large fire that took time to control, and authorities temporarily disrupted airport operations during a busy travel period. The aircraft was destroyed by fire, and investigators documented debris and wreckage for later analysis.

Federal investigators probing the Amazon Prime Air crash in Miami said pilots may have attempted to abort their landing before crashing and killing five people. https://t.co/liLKgLBFLV

— KREM 2 NEWS (@KREM2) September 10, 2026

Airport communities often depend on clear safety zones and strong barriers to protect workers and nearby roads. This crash shows the stakes when a large jet overruns a runway. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration will look at runway safety areas and any engineered stopping systems, along with how perimeter roads and traffic were managed during the incident. These reviews can shape changes that protect both crews and ground workers.

Why This Matters Beyond One Flight

Runway overruns are rare but dangerous, and they usually result from several issues at once. Investigators are studying crew actions, aircraft systems, runway surface condition, and weather to understand how risk added up on this flight. For families and workers, the focus is justice and prevention. For industry and government, the lesson is accountability. Clear training, firm go-around standards, and timely runway condition reports can prevent a fast approach from becoming a fatal overrun.

Americans expect the aviation system to learn fast and act faster. Many worry that large companies and agencies move slowly until lives are lost. This case will test how quickly the Federal Aviation Administration, airports, and airlines turn findings into fixes that matter on the ramp and in the cockpit. Transparent updates and concrete steps—on approach standards, braking checks, and perimeter protections—will show whether safety comes first or bureaucracy does.