Amazon air crash: 5 killed, 5 injured as cargo plane crashes at Miami airport

New Delhi: One of its Amazon Air cargo planes, operated by 21 Air, crashed while attempting to land at Miami International Airport, killing five people and injuring five others. The company has expressed grief and offered support to those affected and said it is working with local authorities to establish what happened and will fully cooperate with the investigation into the accident.

“We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today’s incident at Miami International Airport. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss,” Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said.

Nantel said the aircraft was operated by 21 Air and was attempting to land when the incident occurred. “We’re working closely with local authorities and officials to understand exactly what happened. Right now, our absolute priority is the safety, well-being, and care of everyone involved. We’re doing everything we can to support those affected,” Nantel said.

Amazon crash probe

Amazon said it would cooperate fully with any investigation into the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the aircraft involved was a Boeing 767-300 that had departed from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The 32-year-old aircraft had previously operated as a passenger plane for several airlines before being converted into a cargo aircraft in 2015, according to Flightradar24. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the accident.

Five injured as rescue teams respond

More than 60 emergency units and over 200 personnel were deployed at the scene, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) said. The department said crews arrived to find the aircraft on fire, with heavy flames and smoke visible following the crash.

Five people were injured in the crash, including three who were in critical condition, Miami-Dade Fire Chief Ray Jadallah said. At least two people were trapped inside vehicles hit by the aircraft, while the pilot and co-pilot were also trapped inside the plane, Reuters reported.

An active fuel leak was reported at the crash site and was being mitigated, while residents and motorists were urged to avoid the area around 67th Avenue and 25th Street. Local media reported that there was no continuing threat to public safety as emergency crews dealt with the aftermath.

Miami airport operations disrupted

The crash triggered a ground stop at Miami International Airport at around 2.30pm ET. The restriction was lifted after roughly three hours, while two runways were subsequently reopened, according to Greg Chin, communications director for the Miami-Dade Aviation Department.

The disruption nevertheless caused significant delays for passengers. By Sunday night, the average delay for flights arriving at the airport was around six and a half hours, with travellers warned to expect possible delays and cancellations.

US transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, also advised travellers to check for disruptions following the crash.