An Amazon Boeing 767-300 cargo aircraft operated by 21 Air overran a runway at Miami International Airport and struck two vehicles, killing five people and injuring five others, according to US officials.
The aircraft, which was operating an Amazon Air flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Miami, failed to stop within the designated runway area after attempting to land on Runway 30.
The plane continued beyond the paved surface at high speed, crossed a grassy area and broke through airport fencing before reaching a nearby four-lane road, where it struck a van and a sport utility vehicle.
All five people who died were inside the vehicles, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said during a news conference on Monday. The two pilots survived the crash, although their medical conditions had not been disclosed.
The Boeing 767, weighing more than 100 tonnes, remained airborne beyond the normal landing zone as it approached Runway 30, according to flight-tracking data from Flightradar24.
The aircraft eventually touched down but continued moving rapidly along the runway. By the time it reached the end of the paved surface, tracking data showed it was travelling at about 130 miles per hour.
It then crossed a grassy area, went through a chain-link fence fitted with razor wire and broke through concrete barriers intended to prevent vehicles from entering the secure airport area.
The aircraft eventually crossed the roadway and struck two vehicles, including a 2012 Ford van carrying seven people and a Toyota SUV.
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The van was carrying workers from Professional Ocean Service Corporation, a contract cleaning company that provides services to airlines. The van was located inside the airport, while the SUV was outside the airport perimeter, Homendy said.
The aircraft finally came to rest about 1,300 feet beyond the end of the paved runway near a parking area where Tesla robotaxis were stationed.
The crash left extensive wreckage scattered across the area, including parts of the aircraft, damaged vehicles, airbags and sections of fencing.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Raied “Ray” Jadallah said more than 60 fire rescue units and approximately 200 firefighters responded to the incident.
Five people were killed and another five were injured. Three of those injured were taken to a trauma centre in critical condition.
Rescue teams also used a ladder to gain access to the aircraft through a cockpit window, while firefighters worked to extract people trapped inside the vehicles struck by the plane.
A fire broke out around the aircraft’s right-side engine after the crash, sending flames and thick black smoke into the air as emergency crews worked to bring it under control.
The NTSB has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident. Homendy said a 32-member investigative team would remain at the scene for at least a week as investigators examine the aircraft, runway, weather conditions, crew performance and air traffic control records.
Investigators will also review the flight crew’s experience and training, the operation of the aircraft and the oversight provided by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Other areas of the investigation will include the contractual relationship between 21 Air and Amazon and the impact of weather conditions on the flight.
Investigators recovered the aircraft’s black box, which is expected to provide cockpit and flight data that could help establish what happened during the approach and landing.
Homendy stressed that the NTSB would not determine the probable cause of the crash while investigators were still at the scene.
“We are deeply, deeply committed to our duty, our responsibilities as an investigative agency to determine how this accident occurred, why it happened, with one goal in mind: safety,” she said.
The cargo plane attempted to land at about 2pm local time on Sunday on a runway more than 9,000 feet long.
Flight-tracking data indicated that the aircraft rose above the normal approach path before descending again to align with Runway 30.
The Amazon plane also appeared to have passed through a developing thunderstorm as it approached the airport.
CNN safety analyst and former Federal Aviation Administration safety inspector David Soucie said a sudden change in wind direction could have created a tailwind during the landing.
A tailwind can increase an aircraft’s speed relative to the ground and make it more difficult for pilots to slow the aircraft after touchdown.
Air traffic control recordings also indicated that the pilots did not report any problems with the aircraft before landing.
Francisco Diaz, a Boeing 747 captain and president of the Captains Council, said footage of the landing appeared consistent with an unstable approach.
He said investigators would need to consider several factors before determining why the aircraft was unable to stop safely.
The crash has also prompted questions about the safety infrastructure surrounding Miami International Airport.
Aviation experts noted that the airport does not have an Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS) at the end of the runway involved in the incident.
An EMAS uses specially engineered material designed to slow and stop an aircraft that overruns a runway.
Experts said such a system could potentially help prevent an aircraft from travelling beyond airport property, particularly at airports surrounded by roads, buildings and densely populated areas.
Runway excursions, in which aircraft leave the runway surface, are among the most common types of aviation incidents worldwide, according to the International Air Transport Association.
The incident has therefore renewed discussions about whether additional runway-end safety measures are needed at Miami International Airport.
The aircraft was operated by 21 Air, a North Carolina-based cargo carrier with an operations centre in Miami.
The company is one of several carriers that operate flights for Amazon Air, which uses a large network of cargo operators to transport customer packages.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel expressed sympathy to the victims and their families following the crash.
“We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today’s incident at Miami International Airport,” Nantel said.
She extended the company’s condolences to the families, loved ones and others affected by the accident.
The crash also caused major disruptions at Miami International Airport, with two of the airport’s four runways closed for much of Monday.
Runway 30, where the Boeing 767 attempted to land, and Runway 26L remained closed as investigators and emergency crews continued working at the site.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued an advisory warning that flights arriving at Miami International Airport could face significant delays. By Monday night, hundreds of flights had been delayed or cancelled, according to FlightAware.
The airport is expected to continue experiencing operational disruptions while investigators complete their work and crews clear the crash site.
The NTSB is scheduled to hold another news conference on Tuesday as investigators continue examining the circumstances that led to the deadly runway overrun.
CNN
