Rolando Alemán León, aged 55, has been identified as the Cuban national among the five fatalities in the tragic crash of an Amazon cargo plane that veered off the runway at Miami International Airport last Sunday, as reported by Telemundo 51.
Only recently employed by Professional Ocean Service Corp. in January, Alemán León was part of the maintenance team contracted to service aircraft at the airport.
The news outlet highlighted that a neighbor described Alemán León as a kind individual who often assisted her by driving her to medical appointments.
The other four victims, also employees of the same company, were named on Tuesday by Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz: Yoel Rodríguez Naranjo, 53; Julio C. Pineda, 75; Carlos Acosta Fajardo, 53; and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo, 47.
All were traveling in a 2012 white Ford Econoline van carrying seven workers within the airport grounds when it was struck by the aircraft.
The crash occurred as the Boeing 767-300, operated by 21 Air for Amazon Air, arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, overshot the end of runway 30, continuing approximately 396 meters beyond the pavement before halting.
After colliding with navigation equipment and destroying the van, the plane broke through a perimeter fence, hit a Toyota Corolla Cross LE driving along Northwest 67th Avenue outside the airport, and eventually crashed into another fence separating a lot where Tesla robotaxis were parked.
Additional Details Emerge on Miami Aviation Tragedy
It was revealed that this was the aircraft's third flight of the day: having operated the Cincinnati-Miami route, then Miami-San Juan, before returning from Puerto Rico when the disaster unfolded.
The two pilots, Jaime Felipe Silva Molina, 37, and Joseph Carol, 55, survived the ordeal and have since been discharged.
Three individuals remain hospitalized: Eugenio Corredor, 79, and Ridoel Averhoff Díaz, 32, are in critical condition, while Roosevelt Sebastian Perdomo Torres, 36, is stable.
Jennifer Homendy, the Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), described the crash site as a scene of "total devastation," with vehicle debris, airbags, destroyed navigation equipment, and jet fuel scattered throughout the area 24 hours after the incident.
A video captured by a nearby witness showed the pilot escaping the burning Amazon plane, a dramatic sight for those passing by the airport with their families.
Investigation and Response to the Catastrophe
The NTSB, along with the FAA, is heading the federal investigation; the black boxes — flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder — have been recovered and sent to Washington for analysis.
Professional Ocean Service Corp. issued a statement affirming, "Our employees are family and deeply loved," adding, "Our hearts and prayers go out to every employee and family whose lives have been forever changed."
During a press conference, Sheriff Cordero-Stutz addressed the victims' families in Spanish, reassuring them, "To the families, I want to say you are not alone. We are here to support you."
Frequently Asked Questions About Miami Airport Plane Crash
Who was the Cuban victim in the Amazon plane crash?
The Cuban victim was Rolando Alemán León, a 55-year-old employee of Professional Ocean Service Corp.
What caused the plane to crash at Miami International Airport?
The plane, a Boeing 767-300, overshot the runway and traveled beyond the pavement, leading to the crash.
How many people survived the crash?
The two pilots survived the crash, and three people remain hospitalized with varying conditions.