Full Breakdown
Fatal Amazon Cargo Plane Crash Claims Lives of Five Airport Cleaners in Miami
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
A 100-ton cargo aircraft operated for Amazon by contractor 21 Air overran the end of a runway at Miami International Airport, striking a van carrying five members of an airplane-cleaning crew, an airport fence, concrete barriers and an SUV before catching fire. The crash killed all five cleaners—Julio Pineda, 75; Rolando Alemán León, 55; Yoel Rodríguez Naranjo, 53; Carlos Acosta Fajardo, 53; and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo, 47—and injured five others, including the plane’s two pilots, two other cleaning crew members and a driver in the SUV, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is conducting an on-site investigation.
Background & Context
The victims were part of a contract crew employed by Professional Ocean Service Corp., performing demanding tasks such as wiping seats, removing hazardous waste, and washing aircraft exteriors with lifts. Neighbors described the work as “grueling, fast-paced and often perilous,” noting that the men often worked eight-hour shifts during the Labor Day weekend. All five men were Cuban immigrants who had come to the United States seeking better lives, and they were regarded by friends as generous, hard-working members of their community.
Official Statements & Responses
Amazon’s spokesperson Kelly Nantel expressed “deepest sympathies” for the families and confirmed that the company will fully cooperate with the NTSB and other investigating authorities while coordinating support with 21 Air and local officials. A wrongful-death lawsuit has been filed by the widow of Rodríguez Naranjo against the pilots, Amazon, and 21 Air, according to attorneys from Morgan & Morgan.
Criticism & Opposition
Soma Priddle, an aviation attorney and former commercial airline captain, called the cleaning crews’ work “a god-awful job,” noting that such conditions have been “that way forever.” His comment highlights longstanding safety and labor concerns for contract airport workers.
Verbatim Quotes
- “They worked under the sun, in the extreme heat, all day,” — José Sigas
- “Most people don’t appreciate how hard and dangerous those cleaning jobs are,” — José Sigas
- “I used to say he would be around forever,” — Ana Calatayu
- “I didn’t realize how much I cared for him,” — Emilio Herrera
- “Our deepest sympathies remain with the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating tragedy,” — Kelly Nantel, spokesperson for Amazon
