TITLE: Amazon Halts Use of 21 Air After Fatal Miami Plane Crash
META: Amazon has suspended operations with 21 Air following a Miami crash that killed five people. The NTSB is investigating the incident, which involved a Boeing 767-300.
EXCERPT: Amazon announced on Sunday it is pausing operations with cargo carrier 21 Air after a tragic plane crash in Miami claimed the lives of five individuals, prompting an investigation by the NTSB.
ALT: A cargo plane crash site at Miami International Airport with emergency services present.
ARTICLE:
Amazon announced on Sunday its decision to suspend operations with cargo carrier 21 Air following a tragic crash involving one of its aircraft in Miami. The incident occurred on September 6, claiming five lives as the plane overran the runway during landing.
The Amazon-branded Boeing 767-300 was arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and overran Runway 30 at Miami International Airport shortly before 2 p.m. ET, striking two vehicles, including a van used by an airline cleaning service. All five fatalities were individuals on the ground, identified as Yoel Rodriguez Naranjo, 53; Rolando Aleman Leon, 55; Julio C. Pineda, 75; Carlos Acosta Fajardo, 53; and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo, 47.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel indicated that the company chose to pause its relationship with 21 Air after reviewing the crash circumstances while supporting the National Transportation Safety Board's ongoing investigation. “We've decided to pause our operations with 21 Air, the operator of Flight 7598,” Nantel stated.
In response to the incident, Amazon will employ alternative carriers such as Sun Country Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines for shipments initially scheduled with 21 Air. The North Carolina-based company stated its commitment to assisting those impacted by the crash while cooperating fully with the investigation.
21 Air CEO Keith Winters expressed condolences to the families affected and emphasized the company's dedication to safety policies and procedures. In the moments immediately following the tragedy, he stated, “Our immediate priorities are supporting those affected, assisting the authorities, and ensuring accurate information is communicated.”
Preliminary data from the flight's cockpit voice recorder revealed that during the landing attempt, one pilot warned the other that the aircraft was traveling too fast. There was no consistent response to these warnings, according to the NTSB's summary. Approximately 15 seconds after touching down, a pilot requested a go-around, a maneuver typically used to abort a landing.
NTSB investigator Chihoon Shin indicated that the plane's thrust increased during the landing, suggesting an intention to perform a go-around, yet noted that speed brakes and thrust reversers were not deployed, the reason for which remains unclear. The investigation continues as authorities seek to determine the circumstances leading up to the crash.
Nantel reiterated Amazon's commitment to supporting ongoing investigations and those affected by the incident.