Miami International Airport Plane Crash Claims Five Lives
MIA, FL — A cargo plane crash at Miami International Airport on Sunday killed five people and left several others injured.
The Amazon Air Boeing 767-300, operated by 21 Air, overshot the runway at approximately 2:41 p.m., crashing into a van full of cleaning workers, an airport fence, and a parked SUV. Authorities confirmed five fatalities, all employees of a cleaning service, and several injuries.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating the incident. Investigators have retrieved the flight data and cockpit voice recorders, commonly referred to as “black boxes.” According to NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy, preliminary data shows an unusual sequence of events, with two landing gears touching down prematurely as the jet reached speeds exceeding 180 mph.
Fifteen seconds before the recording ended, the aircraft's brakes were released and throttles were set to take-off power, raising questions about pilot actions during descent. NTSB investigators plan to interview the crew to clarify these events.
The victims have been identified as Rolando Aleman Leon, 55; Yoel Rodriguez Naranjo, 53; Julio C. Pineda, 75; Carlos Acosta Fajardo, 53; and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo, 47. Three individuals remain hospitalized, with two in critical condition.
One runway at the airport remains closed, while alternate routes have reopened for departures. The NTSB continues its investigation, focusing on collecting critical evidence to understand the crash better.