Five people were killed and five others were injured after an Amazon cargo plane crashed while landing at Miami International Airport. The Boeing 767-300 was operated by 21 Air. It was arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Sunday. The aircraft went beyond the end of the runway and struck vehicles near the airport.
The plane first hit a cleaning van used by an airport contractor. Seven people were inside the van. The aircraft then broke through a security fence and crashed into a Toyota Corolla. Three people were in the car.
The five people who died were identified by Miami authorities as Rolando Aleman Leon, 55; Yoel Rodriguez Naranjo, 53; Julio C. Pineda, 75; Carlos Acosta Fajardo, 53, and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo, 47.
Three injured people are still receiving hospital treatment. Two of them are in critical condition. The pilot and co-pilot were also hurt but have now been released from hospital.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy described the crash site as extremely devastating. She said investigators were still gathering evidence and it was too soon to determine what caused the accident.
The aircraft had completed two flights before the crash. Investigators have recovered both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder. The voice recorder has more than two hours of clear audio. The flight recorder contains about 55 hours of information.
Investigators will examine many possible factors. These include the aircraft’s systems, engines, flight history and performance. They will also review the pilots’ training and experience. Radar information and weather conditions will also be studied. A thunderstorm was reported near the airport before the accident. Winds were also reaching speeds of about 48 km/h.
Investigators will also examine the runway. They want to know whether an Engineered Materials Arresting System, or EMAS, should have been installed. The system can help stop planes that run beyond a runway.
The NTSB has asked the public to share photos and videos that may help explain what happened. Two of Miami Airport’s four runways remained closed after the crash. The accident also caused flight cancellations and delays during the busy Labour Day holiday weekend.
Amazon said it was deeply saddened by the deaths. 21 Air also expressed sympathy to the victims and said it was cooperating with investigators.
Officials said the investigation could take time. The NTSB has said its final goal is to find the cause and recommend safety changes to help prevent another tragedy.
