Five people have died after an Amazon cargo plane crashed while landing at Miami International Airport in the United States. Five others were injured. Three of them are in critical condition.
The Boeing 767-300 was carrying cargo for Amazon. It was operated by 21 Air, a North Carolina-based charter airline. The aircraft had flown from Luis Muñoz MarÃn International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The crash happened shortly before 14:00 local time on Sunday. The aircraft reportedly ran beyond the end of the runway while landing. It then crashed near the airport’s northwest area and struck several vehicles on the ground.
Fire and rescue teams reached the scene within seconds. More than 200 firefighters were sent to deal with the emergency. They found the aircraft badly damaged and on fire, with thick smoke rising from the crash site. Some people on the ground became trapped inside or underneath vehicles. Rescue workers had to remove them from the wreckage. Five people were later confirmed dead, while five others were taken to hospital.
The fire was eventually put out. However, emergency crews continued dealing with a fuel leak at the site. The cause of the crash is not yet known. The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation. Officials are expected to provide additional information as the investigation continues.
The Federal Aviation Administration temporarily grounded flights following the incident. The crash also caused major disruption at Miami International Airport. Several flights were cancelled or delayed.
The accident happened during the US Labour Day holiday weekend. It is one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Thousands of passengers were already travelling through airports across the country. Passengers at Miami airport reported long queues and delays. Some travellers said they had difficulty getting information about their flights. Others faced the possibility of staying in Miami for another night.
Flight tracking data showed the aircraft was travelling at about 112 knots, or 129 mph, when it left the usable section of the runway. Weather conditions may also be examined as part of the investigation. Reports indicated light thunderstorms and strong wind gusts in Miami around the time of the crash.
Amazon said it was working with authorities to determine what happened. The company also expressed sympathy for those who died and their families. Miami International Airport is a major US aviation hub. It handles large amounts of international cargo and passenger traffic, particularly flights between the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean.
