Full Breakdown
Amazon Cargo Plane Overruns Miami Runway, Killing Five and Injuring Five
9/7/2026, 10:44:33 AM
Miami Runway Overrun Tragedy
On September 6, 2026, a Boeing 767-300 freighter operated by 21 Air for Amazon Prime Air attempted to land at Miami International Airport after departing from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The aircraft overshot the airport’s diagonal runway, struck multiple ground vehicles, and ignited a fire that produced thick black smoke.
Aircraft and Flight Details
- Aircraft: Boeing 767-300, 32 years old, originally built in 1994 and converted to a cargo configuration in 2015 (Flightradar24).
- Operator: 21 Air, a North Carolina-based cargo carrier that began flying Boeing 767-300 freighters for Amazon in 2024.
- Flight designation: Prime Air Flight 7598.
- Time of overrun: around 2 p.m. local time (? 18:00 GMT).
Casualties and Emergency Response
- Fatalities: 5 people (Miami-Dade County officials confirmed).
- Injuries: 5 people – 3 critically injured and transported to a trauma center, 2 hospitalized with less severe injuries (Fire Chief Ray Jadallah).
- Crew status: The pilot and co-pilot were trapped in the cockpit; survival status not yet disclosed.
- Responder deployment: More than 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units (? 200 personnel) arrived within minutes, confronting a “very complex” fire and an active fuel leak.
Official Statements & Responses
- Federal Aviation Administration (Federal Aviation Authority (FAA)): Issued a ground stop for all arrivals and departures, launched an investigation, and confirmed the aircraft’s overrun.
- National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB): Sent a “go team” led by Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy to Miami; a media briefing is scheduled for the following day.
- Amazon: Stated it would cooperate with all investigations and emphasized support for victims.
- Miami International Airport: Confirmed the aircraft was disabled at the northwest end of the field and that runway and taxiway closures began at 3 p.m. local time.
On-the-Ground Accounts
He noted that planes normally take off and land every five minutes, and the incident felt unprecedented for his community.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Location of fatalities: Authorities have not determined whether the five deaths occurred among the aircraft’s crew or among occupants of the struck vehicles.
- Initial casualty uncertainty: Early coverage varied, with some outlets reporting “unclear” casualty numbers, while later statements from Miami-Dade officials fixed the toll at five dead and five injured.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We're working closely with local authorities and officials to understand exactly what happened,” — Kelly Nantel, company spokesperson
- “Units arrived to find an airplane that had caught fire as a result of this crash, with heavy flames and smoke showing,” — Miami-Dade Fire Rescue
- “Prime Air Flight 7598 overran Miami International Airport’s diagonal runway and is disabled at the north-west end of the airport,” — Indira Almeida-Pardillo, a spokesperson for Miami International Airport
- “What we found was a very complex situation here,” — Ray Jadallah, miami-dade fire chief
- “Right now, our absolute priority is the safety, wellbeing and care of everyone involved.” — An Amazon, spokesperson
What’s Next
The NTSB’s investigation team, led by Chairwoman Homendy, will examine flight data, runway conditions, and aircraft performance to determine the cause of the overrun. The FAA will release its findings after the investigation, and Amazon has pledged ongoing cooperation with federal authorities.
