Full Breakdown
Amazon Cargo Jet Overruns Miami Runway, Killing Five Ground Workers
9/10/2026, 5:11:51 AM
Core Event
On September 6, 2026, an Amazon Prime Air Boeing 767-300 freighter operated by 21 Air LLC overran runway 10L at Miami International Airport. After touching down at excessive speed, the aircraft travelled roughly 1,300 feet (396 m) beyond the paved surface, struck a cleaning-service van and a nearby sedan, and came to rest after colliding with a public road. All five occupants of the van were killed; five additional people—including the two pilots—were injured.
Background & Context
Flight 7598 was the aircraft’s third flight of the day, arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, after earlier legs from Cincinnati to Miami and Miami to San Juan. The 32-year-old Boeing 767 was carrying about 32,000 pounds of cargo, primarily contact lenses, and no hazardous materials. The jet had been converted from passenger service to cargo in 2015.
Data & Statistics
- Touchdown sequence: nose gear and right main gear contacted the runway at 158 knots (181 mph) 30 seconds before the flight-data recorder (FDR) stopped; left main gear touched down 19 seconds later at 134 knots.
- Brakes were released 15 seconds before the end of the recording, and throttles rose to values consistent with go-around thrust.
- Four seconds later the throttles were idled and brakes reapplied; the final recorded ground speed was 65 knots (75 mph).
- Speed brakes and thrust reversers were never deployed, according to the FDR.
- The aircraft’s speed during the aborted-go-around window was roughly 138 mph, losing an estimated 800 feet of runway while the brakes were disengaged.
Official Statements & Responses
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy described the scene as “utter devastation” and said the agency will interview the pilots on September 9, 2026. She emphasized that the NTSB has not yet determined why speed brakes or thrust reversers were not used and that a full aircraft-performance study is pending.
Amazon issued a statement expressing “deepest sympathies” for the victims and reiterated cooperation with the investigation.
Criticism & Opposition
Aviation experts highlighted the delayed go-around decision as a critical safety lapse. Former FAA official Michael O’Donnell warned that “there’s all kinds of red flags with a go-around decision made that late,” while lawyer Pablo Rojas stressed that “if you’re going to do a go-around, you absolutely have to commit.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “You either land or you go around. You don’t land, attempt to go around, and then get back to landing again, unless there was some mechanical malfunction,” — Steven Arroyo, aviation expert and retired United Airlines pilot
- “There’s all kinds of red flags with a go-around decision made that late,” — Michael O’Donnell, former FAA official
- “If you’re going to do a go-around, you absolutely have to commit,” — Pablo Rojas
- “That’s something we still have to determine,” — Jennifer Homendy, NTSB chair
What’s Next
The NTSB will interview the pilots on September 9, 2026, and release a readout of the cockpit-voice recorder. Investigators will examine air-traffic-control communications and assess whether Miami International Airport’s lack of a dedicated runway-overrun arresting system contributed to the accident. The final NTSB report, with safety recommendations, is not expected for at least a year.
