MIAMI (Web Desk) — At least five people were killed and several others injured after an Amazon-contracted cargo plane overran the runway while landing at Miami International Airport on Sunday, according to US authorities.
The incident involved Prime Air Flight 7598, operated by cargo carrier 21 Air. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the aircraft overran the runway after landing at around 2pm on September 6 and struck several vehicles before catching fire.
Miami-Dade County officials said five people were killed in the crash, while three others suffered critical injuries. Two additional people were hospitalised with less serious injuries.
Fire Chief Ray Jadallah said several people were trapped inside vehicles following the crash. The pilot and co-pilot were also trapped inside the aircraft, while emergency crews continued to deal with a fuel leak several hours after the incident.
More than 60 emergency response units were dispatched to the scene, according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.
Miami International Airport said the aircraft was disabled at the northwest end of the airport. A full ground stop was initially imposed, although one runway was reopened later in the afternoon.
The airport warned passengers that the crash was continuing to affect operations and advised travellers to check with their airlines for flight updates before going to the airport.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the FAA was sending investigators to the scene.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) also launched an investigation and said it was gathering information. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy is expected to visit the scene, with an initial briefing scheduled for Monday.
Amazon said the aircraft, operated by 21 Air, was involved in an incident while attempting to land at Miami International Airport.
“Our absolute priority is the safety, well-being, and care of everyone involved,” an Amazon spokesperson said, adding that the company was working with authorities to determine what happened.
The aircraft was a 32-year-old Boeing 767 that had originally been built as a passenger aircraft. According to flight-tracking website Flightradar24, it flew for several airlines for more than two decades before being converted into a cargo aircraft in 2015.
Miami International Airport is a major aviation hub serving the southeastern United States and destinations across Latin America.
Source: Global News
