A woman who was in a vehicle near Miami International Airport vividly described the terrifying moment when an Amazon cargo plane skidded off the runway and caught fire on Sunday, resulting in five fatalities and injuring five others.
"It was unbelievably loud. I've never heard anything like it. It was like a jolt. Honestly, I can't compare it to anything else," Grace Mercado told NBC 6 Miami.
Mercado was traveling with her partner when they heard a sudden crash. "We heard a noise," she recounted. "And he said, 'Oh my God. Is that a plane crash?'" Looking up from her phone, she witnessed the aircraft veering off the runway, crossing a Miami-Dade County road, and coming to a halt after colliding with several vehicles.
"The plane was engulfed in smoke," the witness described. "It was like something out of a movie. It was madness."
Details of the Catastrophe
The accident happened around 2:00 p.m. on Sunday when flight 7598 from 21 Air, operating for Amazon Prime Air in a Boeing 767-300 cargo plane, attempted to land after departing from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Preliminary data indicates the aircraft overran the airport’s diagonal runway at approximately 112 knots before veering off, crossing public roads, and erupting in flames.
Emergency Response and Investigation
Mercado recalled that initially, there were no signs of emergency services. However, the situation quickly changed: "There were no ambulances or anything. But they arrived in less than a minute. It was absolutely incredible."
The Miami-Dade Fire Department deployed over 60 units and around 200 personnel, with the first responders arriving within seconds. In a statement, the department expressed, "We are deeply affected by the loss of life and extend our thoughts and prayers to all who were injured."
Among the five hospitalized were the plane's two pilots, three of whom were in critical condition. The identities of the deceased had not been publicly released by Monday.
Official Responses and Ongoing Investigations
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava confirmed the casualty count in a press briefing, while U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced a complete ground stop at the airport and warned of potential flight delays and cancellations. Later, two of the airport’s four runways were reopened.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are working to determine the causes of the crash. Preliminary lines of inquiry suggest potential runway conditions, heavy rain, and landing performance factors, though no official cause has been confirmed.
For Mercado, the scene remains difficult to comprehend: "It's something you don't see in real life. That's why it's surreal."
Frequently Asked Questions About the Miami Plane Crash
What caused the Amazon cargo plane to crash in Miami?
The exact cause of the crash is still under investigation, but preliminary inquiries point to runway conditions, possible heavy rain, and landing performance issues.
How many people were affected by the Miami plane crash?
The crash resulted in five deaths and five injuries, including the two pilots of the aircraft.
What was the response from emergency services?
Emergency services responded rapidly, with Miami-Dade Fire Department deploying over 60 units and 200 personnel to the scene almost immediately.