| Quick Answer On Sunday, 6 September 2026, an Amazon-branded cargo plane overran the runway while landing at Miami International Airport, struck two vehicles, and caught fire. Five people died and five were injured — all of them in the vehicles that were hit, not on the plane. The two pilots survived. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating, and a cause has not yet been confirmed. |
News like this spreads fast, and it’s easy to end up with half the story from a headline or a short video clip. So here’s the full picture of the Amazon plane crash, explained simply, using only what officials have actually confirmed so far.
What Happened During the Amazon Plane Crash at Miami Airport
On Sunday afternoon, around 2 p.m. local time, a Boeing 767 cargo plane bound for Miami was coming in for landing at the airport. The plane was operated by Prime Air and had departed from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Instead of stopping at the end of the runway as it was supposed to, the Boeing 767 overshot the landing strip by about 1,300 feet.
The plane ran on the pavement of a road where airport workers and local businesses are located. It hit a van carrying seven people and an SUV and caught fire, creating a thick cloud of black smoke that could be seen from a distance. Authorities responded to the emergency with more than 60 fire units and about 200 firefighters, arriving at the scene shortly after the crash.
Who Was Affected
This is the most critical section, and it must be articulated correctly: all who perished were in one of the two vehicles the plane collided with, not on the plane itself. There were 5 people who lost their lives, and 5 people who were injured, 3 of which critically. The pilot and co-pilot, who were trapped in the cockpit after the crash, survived and were later discharged from the hospital.
The van belonged to a company that cleaned planes for the airlines, and had seven people inside at the time. Some victims had to be extracted from the wreckage physically by rescue workers.
The Aircraft and the Airline
The plane was a Boeing 767-300, built in 1994 as a passenger aircraft, later converted to a cargo plane. The aircraft was operating as 21 Air Flight 7598, 21 Air is a cargo airline based out of North Carolina that operates flights for Amazon Prime Air under contract.
Amazon does not operate aircraft, it has a partnership with several regional airlines to operate its parcel delivery network. The airline is not owned by Amazon, they simply provide contract aircraft services.
Amazon confirmed the incident and expressed its condolences for the loss of lives, it is cooperating with local authorities to determine what happened.
What Investigators Are Looking At
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The National Transportation Safety Board has sent a crew of more than 30 investigators to Miami. The team, led by chairwoman Jennifer Homendy, has recovered both the flight data and cockpit voice recorders. The information they found could potentially tell what happened during the last few minutes before landing.
Investigators are likely to look into whether the plane landed beyond a point on the runway, followed proper landing procedures, whether weather conditions were a factor, and if the aircraft was operating normally, says aviation experts. The video seems to show that it landed farther down the runway, staying aloft for a longer period.
Another thing that caused alarm was that Miami International Airport doesn’t have an EMAS (Engineered Material Arresting System) at the end of the runway. EMAS is a bed of crushable material, which allows a plane that has run off the end of a runway to stop safely. Had the crew applied brakes in this case, the plane would have skidded much farther.
NTSB has declared that they will hold off on naming a probable cause while still on the ground in Miami. Usually, it can take months or even years before the completed story is released.
How the Crash Affected the Airport
The crash caused the Miami International Airport to close all 4 runways for a period of time. 2 runways were opened after some time, however, there were still many flight delays and cancellations for a few days after the incident. Several airline companies, such as American Airlines, announced that they will not charge change fees to passengers who were affected by the crash.
What Happens Next
NTSB investigators are likely to remain at the site for several days inspecting the wreckage before they can determine the cause of the crash. A preliminary report is typically issued within a few weeks, but that report is unlikely to include a final determination. The investigation into the crash of the 737 MAX could take years before a cause and potential safety recommendations are released.
Key Takeaways
- The crash happened on 6 September 2026 at Miami International Airport
- Five people died and five were injured, all in vehicles struck by the plane, not on board
- Both pilots survived
- The plane was a Boeing 767 operated by 21 Air for Amazon’s Prime Air network
- The NTSB is investigating, but no official cause has been confirmed yet
Frequently Asked Questions
Did anyone on the Amazon plane die in the crash?
No. Both the pilot and co-pilot survived the crash and were later released from hospital. All five people who died were in the vehicles the plane struck on the ground.
What caused the Amazon plane crash?
The exact cause has not yet been confirmed. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating several possibilities, including whether the plane touched down too far along the runway and whether weather or mechanical issues played a role.
Which airline actually operated the Amazon plane?
The aircraft was operated by 21 Air, a cargo airline based in North Carolina that flies routes for Amazon’s Prime Air delivery network. Amazon does not fly the planes itself.
How old was the plane involved in the crash?
The Boeing 767 involved was built in 1994, making it around 32 years old at the time of the crash. It had previously flown as a passenger aircraft before being converted for cargo use.
Will Miami International Airport add safety barriers because of this crash?
That’s one of the questions investigators are expected to look at, since the runway involved did not have an Engineered Material Arresting System, a safety feature designed to stop planes that overrun the runway.
