The toll is now tragic. Five people were killed and five others injured on Sunday, September 6, after a Boeing 767-300 cargo plane operating for Amazon Prime Air veered off the runway at Miami International Airport in Florida . Three of the injured are in critical condition.
A few hours after the first spectacular images of the Amazon Boeing 767 crash in Miami , US authorities clarified the circumstances of the tragedy and confirmed the heavy human toll.
The Boeing 767 was arriving from Puerto Rico
The crashed aircraft was operating Prime Air flight 7598. This Boeing 767-300 cargo plane was operated by the American company 21 Air on behalf of Amazon and was arriving from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The accident occurred shortly before 14 p.m. local time. After touching down on the runway in Miami , the plane failed to stop before the end. It continued its trajectory, left the airport property, crossed a road, and struck several vehicles before coming to rest in an adjacent field. A fire then broke out.
Five dead and five injured
In the first hours following the accident, the exact number of victims remained uncertain. The mayor of Miami-Dade County, Daniella Levine Cava, later confirmed the death toll.
"We now know that five people have lost their lives and five others have been injured ," she announced at a press conference held at the airport.
Of the five injured, three are in critical condition. Two others were hospitalized with less serious injuries. Authorities had not yet released the identities of the deceased.
The pilot and co-pilot were trapped in the cockpit.
The emergency response was particularly significant. More than 60 units and approximately 200 emergency personnel were mobilized.
Several people were trapped in the vehicles struck by the Boeing. Firefighters had to carry out complex extrication operations. The pilot and co-pilot were also trapped inside the cockpit as the aircraft caught fire. They were eventually rescued.
Specialized teams also had to deal with a kerosene leak. A specific foam was used to extinguish the fire and secure the area around the wreckage.
Why was the Boeing unable to stop?
This is now the main question investigators will have to answer. The FAA and the NTSB have opened investigations to determine why the Boeing 767 overshot the end of the runway.
The NTSB sent a team to Miami, led by its president, Jennifer Homendy. A press conference is scheduled for Monday to present the initial findings.
At this stage, no official cause has been established. Investigators will notably seek to determine the exact point where the aircraft touched down on the runway and analyze the various factors that may have contributed to the inability to stop it.
Amazon promises to cooperate fully
Amazon confirmed that the aircraft was operating for its air freight network. The company stated that it is cooperating with US authorities investigating the precise circumstances of the accident.
"Our top priority is the safety, well-being and care of everyone involved ," said Kelly Nantel, an Amazon spokesperson.
21 Air operates several cargo planes for the American giant. The crashed aircraft sported the Prime Air livery, clearly identifiable in the numerous images released after the crash.
Hundreds of flights disrupted in Miami
The accident caused major disruptions at Miami International Airport. Traffic was halted after the crash, and all runways and taxiways were temporarily closed.
Two of the four runways were able to reopen in the evening. However, nearly 200 flights were cancelled Sunday night, while many others were experiencing delays.
The investigation must now reconstruct the landing of Prime Air flight 7598 second by second. The human toll is already extremely heavy: at least five dead and five injured, three of whom are in critical condition.
