An Amazon cargo plane crashed at Miami International Airport, veering off the runway and colliding with several vehicles, resulting in at least five fatalities and five injuries.
According to the Associated Press, the incident occurred around 2 p.m. local time on September 6. The cargo plane, which had departed from San Juan, Puerto Rico, landed at Miami International Airport but overshot the runway, crossing a road used by warehouse and business personnel. The plane then struck multiple vehicles, igniting a fire.
Miami-Dade County officials reported that five people died, three sustained serious injuries, and two were transported to the hospital with minor injuries. It remains unclear whether the deceased were on the aircraft or in the vehicles involved in the collision.
The AP reported that thick black smoke billowed from the crash site, with the pilot and co-pilot trapped in the cockpit, and some vehicle occupants also trapped inside their cars. Approximately 200 emergency responders were deployed to the scene, and rescuers managed to extricate individuals trapped beneath vehicles.
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 767 operated by 21 Air, a cargo airline based in North Carolina. According to flight tracking site FlightRadar24, the plane was 32 years old, originally built for passenger service, and had been converted to cargo in 2015 after over 20 years of operation with various airlines.
The cause of the accident has not yet been determined. At the time, thunderstorms were reported in the area, with gusts reaching up to 30 mph, leading investigators to consider whether weather conditions contributed to the incident. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) plans to send a team led by Chair Jennifer Homendy to Miami to investigate.
The crash disrupted airport operations, with over 160 flights canceled and approximately 325 delayed by late that day, according to the AP. Some flights were rerouted to Orlando International Airport, more than 200 miles north of Miami.
Amazon issued a statement expressing its commitment to cooperate with the investigation and extended condolences to the families of the victims and all those affected by the incident.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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