An Amazon cargo plane overshot the runway at Miami International Airport (MIA) killing five people and injuring a further five. The incident occurred around 2:00 p.m. local time on Sept. 6 and brought operations at MIA to a halt, causing severe delays and cancellations across hundreds of flights due to be departing or arriving at the Florida airport. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have confirmed an investigation into the incident is underway.
Amazon Aircraft Overshoots Miami Runway
Yesterday afternoon (Sept. 6), a Boeing 767 operated on behalf of Amazon overran the runway at Miami International Airport. The plane crashed into several other vehicles before bursting into flames. The aircraft was heading into Florida from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The cause of the incident has yet to be confirmed by the relevant authorities; however data from aviation tracking website AirNav Radar confirms the plane had a speed of around 130mph (207 km/h) when it overshot the usable portion of the runway. According to air traffic control audio, CNN reported that pilots did not declare an emergency before landing..
Immediately after the incident, all runways and taxiways were closed as emergency responders arrived at the scene. Sean Duffy, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation posted on social media platform, X:
“We’ve issued a full ground stop at Miami International while first responders assess the scene after an Amazon cargo plane overran the runway. If you’re traveling through the area, please expect significant delays and potential cancellations.”
The ground stop was lifted around three hours later but the FAA has stated passengers should expect delays to continue into early Monday, Sept. 7.
Around 250 flights had been affected by delays as of late Sunday afternoon local time. The crash comes over Labour Day weekend, one of the busiest periods to travel in the United States.
The NTSB has said it is “gathering information” about the crash. Transport analysts from CNN have suggested that the investigation is likely to focus on four different potential causes of the crash: piloting of the aircraft, the airfield, the weather, and the conditions of the plane.
It has been noted by several news outlets that the runways at MIA are not equipped with Arrestor Beds, also known as Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS). These are pads of crushable material that are designed to improve safety in cases where aircraft overrun. The FAA states a standard EMAS installation will stop most aircraft overrunning the runway at 70 knots, which is approximately 80 mph.
The FAA reports installation of EMAS has safely stopped 26 overrunning aircraft to date. According to data from the International Air Transport Association, runway excursions are the number one incident involving airplanes worldwide.
This incident is also not the first occasion on which an Amazon cargo plane has overrun the runway. In May 2025, Travel Radar reported that an Amazon aircraft had overshot the runway at Vancouver International Airport. On this occasion no injuries were reported among the crew.
Five Killed and Three in Critical Condition After Amazon Crash
The incident warranted immediate response from emergency services. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue reported 60 units comprising more than 200 personnel were at the scene to deal with the incident.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Raied Jadallah said crews arrived “to find an airplane that had stopped beyond the airport operational boundary with heavy flames and smoke showing.” Several injured persons were trapped inside or under vehicles on the ground and needed to be extracted by emergency services.
Jadallah stated that crews used foam and specialized airport firefighting units to combat the flames. Crews also conducted search and rescue operations, including for the pilot and co-pilot inside the cockpit, while also locating and assessing patients throughout the scene.
Immediately after the incident, Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated that Amazon was aware an Amazon cargo plane being operated by 21 Air had experienced an incident and that the company was working with local authorities to understand what happened. Two hours later, 3:05 p.m. PST another statement was issued about the status of the affected persons:
“We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today’s incident at Miami International Airport. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss. The airplane, which was operated by 21 Air, was attempting to land when this incident occurred. We’re working closely with local authorities and officials to learn more and will cooperate fully with any investigation.”
The FAA confirmed that five individuals had been killed, and a further five had been transported to hospital for medical treatment. Three people are believed to be in critical condition.
21 Air is a North Carolina-based Cargo Airline that dispatches flights for companies such as Amazon and DHL. It has been operating Boeing 767-300 freighters for Amazon since 2024. The airline’s CEO Kevin Winters said that they were “devastated by the accident” and that the company’s “deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives.”
Boeing also made a statement expressing its condolences to the families of those killed and confirmed it would be supporting the investigation led by the NTSB.
This incident marks the second plane crash involving Amazon Air. In February 2019, a cargo plane travelling between Miami and Houston crashed into Trinity Bay in Texas. All three people who were on board the plane were killed. A federal investigation into the crash attributed the incident to pilot error.
At Travel Radar, we express our heartfelt condolences to those who have lost loved ones or been affected by this tragic incident.
