A cargo Boeing 767-300, operated by 21 Air for Amazon Prime Air, veered off the runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday, crashing into several vehicles on a perimeter road. The incident resulted in at least five fatalities and left five others injured, including three in critical condition.
The aircraft had departed from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and overshot the end of runway 30 at approximately 2 PM. It crossed a perimeter road and collided with vehicles near Northwest 42nd Avenue.
According to FlightRadar24, the plane was traveling at 112 knots (approximately 207 km/h) when it left the usable runway area.
Over 200 personnel from the Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue Department responded to the scene, finding the aircraft engulfed in flames with a complex engine fire and an active fuel leak.
Fire Chief Ray Jadallah reported that the pilot and co-pilot were trapped in the cockpit, along with several occupants of the vehicles. Rescue teams also freed an individual pinned beneath one of the cars.
Eyewitness Accounts and Initial Hypotheses
A truck driver who witnessed the crash described the impact: "Since we work next to the airport, one gets used to seeing planes flying low. Apparently, this one went too far, and the moment you realized, you heard the explosion, felt the tremor, saw the smoke, the fire."
Aviation accident expert Luis Irizarry, consulted by Univision, pointed to the meteorological phenomenon known as a microburst as a potential cause for the disaster. "There was a storm approaching the airport, creating adverse weather conditions. Microbursts, which are downward air currents from the storm cloud, can significantly impact aircraft during approach and landing," he explained.
Irizarry elaborated that these downdrafts can strike the runway and rebound, causing a sudden increase in speed during the landing's final phase. "In the FlightAware videos, you can see the aircraft accelerating unexpectedly over the runway, which is the effect of this phenomenon. Without sufficient runway or control over the aircraft, it will veer off the runway," he stated.
Impact of Weather Conditions and Aircraft Age
Former Department of Transportation Inspector General and pilot Mary Schiavo noted, as reported by the AP, that video footage shows the plane floating above the runway for an extended period without pitching the nose to force the main landing gear touch.
"A tailwind would certainly exacerbate your difficulties if you've already given up a significant portion of the runway by not touching down and landing immediately," Schiavo warned.
Aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo added that if the aircraft exceeded the designated landing zone—the first 3,000 feet of the runway—the pilots should have aborted the landing and gone around.
At the time of the crash, there was no direct rain on the runway, but light storms and gusty winds were present in the surrounding area.
The 32-year-old Boeing 767-300, converted to a cargo plane in 2015 after serving passenger airlines, will have its maintenance history scrutinized by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), especially due to its foreign ownership history, including a Russian company.
Additionally, investigators will consider the absence of EMAS systems at Miami Airport—crushable material beds at runway ends designed to halt overrunning aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) estimates these systems, installed at over 120 airports nationwide, have saved at least 497 lives.
Operational Chaos and Official Response
The crash disrupted airport operations for hours during one of the year's busiest weekends. More than 160 flights were canceled, and nearly 325 were delayed, according to FlightAware. Some flights were diverted to Orlando International Airport, over 320 km to the north.
Amazon expressed its sorrow in a statement: "We are heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today's incident at Miami International Airport. Our deepest condolences go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss."
The NTSB has launched a formal investigation, with Chair Jennifer Homendy holding a press conference on Monday. Authorities have cautioned that determining the official cause could take months while the aircraft remains at the crash site under federal custody.
Critical Questions Surrounding the Miami Plane Crash
What is a microburst, and how might it have caused the crash?
A microburst is a localized column of sinking air within a thunderstorm, which can cause sudden and dangerous increases in wind speed. This phenomenon may have contributed to the crash by causing an unexpected surge in speed during the aircraft's landing phase.
How did the absence of EMAS systems at Miami Airport impact the crash?
EMAS systems are designed to stop aircraft that overrun the runway. Miami Airport's lack of these systems might have allowed the plane to continue beyond the runway, leading to the collision with vehicles.
What role did weather conditions play in the crash?
Light storms and gusty winds in the area at the time of the crash may have affected the aircraft's landing, potentially contributing to the difficulty in controlling the plane as it approached the runway.