The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading an investigation into a fatal aviation accident that occurred Sunday at Miami International Airport. An Amazon cargo plane overshot runway 30, crashed through a perimeter fence, and struck two vehicles before coming to a stop and catching fire. Five people were killed in the incident, and at least five others sustained injuries.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy confirmed during a Monday news conference that all five deceased victims were occupants of the two vehicles hit by the aircraft. The plane, identified as an Amazon Air Flight 7598, was a Boeing 767-33 Alpha operated by 21 Air LLC. It had been completing its third flight of the day, arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, following a route that began in Cincinnati.
The aircraft traveled approximately 1,300 feet beyond the paved runway surface. During the excursion, it struck navigational aids and a 2012 white Ford Econoline van owned by the Professional Ocean Service Corporation, a cleaning contractor for the airlines. Seven people were inside that van at the time of the collision. The plane subsequently tore through a fence and hit a Toyota Corolla Cross LE traveling on Northwest 67 Avenue before coming to rest near an area where Tesla robotaxis were stationed.
Emergency response efforts were swift, with local officials noting that Miami-Dade Fire Rescue achieved a 30-second response time. Two of the injured victims were transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital, while three others were taken to the Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition. Footage from the scene captured first responders rescuing a survivor from the wreckage of the Toyota.
Describing the scene as one of “utter devastation,” Homendy noted the extensive debris field, which included aircraft components, navigation equipment, and remnants of the passenger vehicles. The NTSB has successfully recovered both the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder, which are being transported to agency headquarters for analysis. Investigators are currently working to verify speed data from secondary sources against the recovered flight information.
A team of 32 NTSB personnel is on the ground, though full access to the aircraft remains restricted while fuel removal and recovery operations continue. The agency plans to organize into specialized groups to examine human performance, air traffic control, aircraft systems, and meteorology. Investigators will also review the contractual relationship between Amazon and 21 Air, as well as the maintenance and ownership history of the 1994-manufactured aircraft.
A key focus of the probe involves the potential role of an Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS). These crushable, lightweight materials are designed to stop aircraft that overrun runways, though they are not mandated at every airport. Homendy emphasized that the agency’s priority is to document the scene and collect perishable evidence, with the team expected to remain on-site for at least one week.
Addressing the broader issue of runway excursions, Homendy highlighted that the NTSB has investigated over 3,000 such incidents since 2008. She stressed the importance of implementing safety recommendations to prevent recurring tragedies. The agency intends to hold a follow-up briefing on Tuesday and has requested that anyone with relevant photos or video footage contact them at witness@ntsb.gov. The report also notes that nTSB says all victims were in the 2 vehicles hit. The report also notes that cellphone video shows first responders finding a person alive inside the crushed Toyota. The report also notes that the surrounding airbags, you can see airbags. The report also notes that some debris from the airport, and then certainly fencing everywhere, certainly navigation components. The report also notes that witnesses recalled the horrifying moments they saw smoke and flames billowing from the plane as they drove past the airport. The report also notes that it looked like something from a movie,” said Grace Mercado. The report also notes that we are so, so very proud of our Miami-Dade Fire Rescue; they had a record response time of 30 seconds, and our sheriff’s office did an incredible job out there investigating,” said Commissioner Natalie Milan Orbis, who represents District 6 in Miami-Dade County.
