A Boeing 767-300 cargo aircraft operated by 21 Air overran a runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday, crashing through perimeter barriers and striking multiple vehicles on a nearby road. The incident, which occurred around 2 p.m. ET, resulted in at least five deaths and five injuries. Among the vehicles hit was a 2012 Ford van carrying seven people, according to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy.
The aircraft, which was arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, appeared to struggle during its approach. Flightradar24 data indicated the plane was still traveling at nearly 130 miles per hour as it reached the end of the runway. Video footage shared on social media showed the jet hovering beyond the standard landing zone for Runway 30 before barreling through a chain-link fence and crumbling concrete barriers. The plane eventually came to a fiery stop near a secondary fence line, where Tesla robotaxis were stationed.
First responders arrived quickly to the scene, with radio traffic capturing the urgency of the situation as crews shouted, “Plane’s on fire!” and “Put your game faces on.” More than 60 fire rescue units and approximately 200 firefighters were deployed to extinguish the blaze, which erupted around the aircraft’s starboard engine. Rescue workers were seen using ladders to access the cockpit through a window to assist the flight crew.
NTSB Chair Homendy confirmed that recovery operations are ongoing, emphasizing that “the recovery of victims is most important.” While the exact locations of the deceased—whether inside the aircraft or in the struck vehicles—remain under investigation, three of the five injured individuals were transported to a trauma center in critical condition.
Local officials described the terrifying moments of the crash. Spencer Deno, mayor of the Village of Virginia Gardens, reported feeling his home shake from the impact. “Within a minute, I began hearing sirens. I grabbed my keys, and my wife and I drove toward Northwest 36th Street, approximately a block from our home,” Deno said. Francisco Diaz, a Boeing 747 captain and president of the Captains Council, noted that a witness near the scene was visibly shaken after narrowly avoiding the aircraft as it breached the airport perimeter.
Aviation experts are now examining potential contributing factors, including weather conditions. The plane passed through a developing thunderstorm during its approach, and safety analyst David Soucie suggested that a sudden wind shift may have created a tailwind, causing the aircraft to gain speed rather than decelerate. Additionally, observers noted the plane landed nearly parallel to the ground, missing the standard “flare” maneuver. Air traffic control audio indicated that the pilots did not report any mechanical issues prior to the landing.
The crash has prompted renewed calls for enhanced safety infrastructure at the airport. Transportation analyst Mary Schiavo and other experts pointed to the lack of an arrestor bed system, which could have potentially stopped the 100-ton jet before it reached the public roadway. The incident caused significant travel disruptions, with 65 flights canceled and 140 delayed as of Monday morning, while the airport continues to operate with reduced runway capacity.
Amazon, which utilizes 21 Air for cargo operations, expressed condolences for the loss of life. A spokesperson for the company stated they are “heartbroken” by the incident. A team of approximately 12 NTSB investigators is currently on-site to survey the wreckage and determine the cause of the crash. The report also notes that it was hard to tell from a distance there were any problems with the Boeing 767-300 bearing Amazon’s “Smile” logo on the tail fin, as it started its descent under dark clouds over Miami International Airport. The report also notes that something clearly was wrong, but as the plane got closer to touchdown Sunday. The report also notes that the left rear gear continued to bounce along the runway, but even after two of its landing gear made it to the ground. The report also notes that then through a chain-link fence with razor wire, it barreled across a small grassy patch. The report also notes that weighing more than 100 tons, headed straight for a four-lane road, concrete barriers designed to keep cars out of the secure area crumbled as the jet. The report also notes that “When I turned onto 36th Street, I immediately saw officers responding from multiple directions. The report also notes that a Boeing 747 captain who is president of the Captains Council, a Miami-based pilots’ organization, was helping lead a class at the Boeing training center at the time of the crash, he told, francisco Diaz.
