Fear at Miami airport: an Amazon cargo plane went off the runway during landing, tore down barriers and hit some cars, catching fire. According to an initial estimate, there are five victims and as many injured, three of whom are serious. The accident occurred around 2pm on Sunday local time (8pm Italian time) and the airport was immediately closed.
Several people were trapped in vehicles hit by the plane, forcing rescuers into a complex extraction operation. Also the pilot and co-pilot were trapped in the aircraft and were pulled out alive by firefighters. Investigations are underway to ascertain what happened.
🚨 Update: Deadly Cargo Plane Crash at Miami International Airport
At least five people have died and five others were injured after an Amazon Prime Air cargo aircraft overran the runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday afternoon, striking multiple vehicles and bursting… pic.twitter.com/6XLpT6mVaP
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) September 7, 2026
The plane crash
The plane that ended up off the runway is a Boeing 767-300, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – which has launched an investigation into the incident. He had taken off from Luis Munoz Mari’n International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The plane hit some cars and caught fire, releasing a dense column of black smoke visible from afar. The victims were on board the vehicles hit, while the pilots were among the injured. Their conditions are unknown.
🚨#BREAKING: AN AMAZON 767 AIRPLANE HAS JUST VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND CRASHED AT MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
HORRIFYING FOOTAGE EMERGING OF HUGE PLUMES OF BLACK SMOKE.
PLEASE PRAY!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/87tpZBUM6I
— Matt Van Swol (@mattvanswol) September 6, 2026
On the aircraft there is the Prime Air logo, with which Amazon’s cargo company was called until 2017. The name was later changed to Amazon Air to distinguish the business from drone delivery. “We are deeply saddened by the accident involving one of our aircraft in Miami – said Keith Winters, CEO of 21Air which operates eight Boeing 767 aircraft for Amazon Air –. We express our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims. Our immediate priorities are to provide support to those affected, assist the authorities and ensure that accurate information is communicated as it becomes available. We are cooperating fully with the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration and local authorities. The circumstances of the accident are under investigation.”
It is not yet clear why the plane was unable to stop before the end of the runway, ending up hitting some vehicles. According to data from tracking site Flightradar24, the plane was traveling at nearly 130 miles per hour (about 210 km/h) when it left the usable part of the runway. Valuable information may come from the black boxes.
21 Air Flight 7598 overran the runway after landing at Miami International Airport around 2 pm local time on Sunday, Sept. 6. The Boeing 767-300 cargo aircraft departed from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The FAA will investigate. Contact the…
— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) September 6, 2026
The temporary closure of the Miami airport comes on one of the busiest weekends of the year with Labor Day being celebrated on Monday which officially closes the summer.
We’ve issued a full ground stop at Miami International while first responders assess the scene after an Amazon cargo plane overran the runway.
If you’re traveling through the area, please expect significant delays and potential cancellations.
The @FAANews will send inspectors… https://t.co/k6xrXvoLzJ
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) September 6, 2026
Airport surrounded by urban streets
Miami Airport is integrated into the urban fabric and is surrounded by several city streets and highways. It represents one of the largest hubs in the United States.
The accident is reminiscent of what happened in August 1997 in Miami, when a Fine Air cargo flight crashed on takeoff and ended up on a busy highway, killing five people.