National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators were on the ground at Miami International Airport on Monday, September 7, 2026, a day after an Amazon Prime Air cargo plane overran a runway there on Sunday, September 6, killing five people and injuring five others.
The aircraft, a Boeing 767-300 operated by contract cargo carrier 21 Air and flying as Flight 7598, overran Runway 30 at about 2 p.m. ET on Sunday at the end of a flight that had begun in Puerto Rico, at San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport. It struck multiple vehicles and came to rest in a field next to the airport. Initial video showed the jet skewed sideways off the landing strip as flames and black smoke rose above it, and photos from the scene showed its wings charred.
Five people were killed and five were injured, officials said. Three of the injured were in critical condition and were taken to a trauma center, and two others were taken to a local hospital. Authorities said it was not yet clear whether those who died or were hurt had been on board the plane or on the ground.
Crews Battled Flames and a Fuel Leak
Miami-Dade Fire Chief Raied “Ray” Jadallah said nearly 200 members of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue were deployed for firefighting and search-and-rescue work. Firefighters worked to free people trapped inside the vehicles the jet hit, an operation the chief described as a complex extrication, while a separate team searched for the pilot and co-pilot, who were trapped in the aircraft.
Jadallah said the fire was a very complex one, with engine compartments burning. Crews fought the blaze and pulled patients from the wreckage while the aircraft’s left engine was still running. On the evening of Sunday, September 6, first responders were still working to mitigate an active aviation fuel leak at the site.
Homicide Bureau to Lead Death Investigation
Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said her office’s homicide bureau will lead the investigation into the deaths alongside local and federal law enforcement. The sheriff’s office opened a hotline for people who believe a loved one was affected by the crash. Cordero-Stutz said the scene was still active on Sunday, September 6.
The NTSB dispatched a go-team to Miami and said it planned to hold a media briefing on Monday, September 7. Investigators were weighing a range of possibilities, including a mechanical breakdown, environmental variables and the flight crew’s performance. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it will investigate as well, and the two agencies will determine what caused the crash. No cause had been determined as of publication.
Amazon, 21 Air and Boeing Respond
“We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today’s incident at Miami International Airport,” Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said in a statement. She said the airplane was operated by 21 Air and was attempting to land when the crash occurred, and that the company was working closely with local authorities and would cooperate fully with any investigation.
Keith Winters, chief executive of 21 Air, said the crash had left the carrier devastated and that it was cooperating with federal investigators. He said the company’s immediate priorities were supporting those affected, assisting authorities and making sure accurate information is communicated as it becomes available. Boeing said in a statement that it extends its condolences to the families of those killed and that its thoughts are with the injured. The manufacturer said the aircraft was delivered as a passenger jet in 1994 and later converted for cargo use by a third party. It was 32 years old at the time of the crash.
Delays Ripple Through Labor Day Travel
The crash came in the middle of peak Labor Day weekend travel. Miami International Airport implemented a ground stop and closed all runways and taxiways. The FAA issued the ground stop until 3 p.m. and later extended it to 5:30 p.m. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the halt gave first responders time to size up the scene, and he warned travelers of significant delays and possible cancellations. Passengers at Miami faced long lines as they rebooked, with some routing through other Florida airports.
By about 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, two of the airport’s four runways had reopened, and the airport remained under a ground delay that FAA airspace notices indicated would continue into early Monday. Miami International Airport said on Monday morning, September 7, that two of its four runways were open but that it was still dealing with the effects of the crash, and it urged passengers to check flight status directly with their airline before heading to the airport. The Miami-Dade Aviation Department said the plane overran the diagonal runway and was disabled at the northwest end of the airport, and that runway was still blocked by wreckage on Monday.