At Least 5 Dead After Amazon Cargo Plane Crash in Miami
Five people died on Sunday when an Amazon Air cargo plane overshot a runway and hit several vehicles at Miami International Airport (MIA). Here is the latest on the crash and the investigation.
Amazon Air Cargo Plane Crash Claims Five Lives
The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office confirmed that at least five people are dead after a cargo plane overran a runway when landing at MIA. The Boeing 767-300 was attempting to land shortly before 2 pm EDT on Sunday when it skidded off the runway and hit several vehicles before catching fire.
Flight 7598 from San Juan, Puerto Rico, was operated by cargo carrier 21 Air. The plane finally came to a stop beyond MIA's operational boundary. Data from Flightradar24 indicated that the plane was traveling at a speed of 130 mph when it reached the end of the runway.
Authorities have confirmed that the fatalities happened on the ground. The five victims, ranging in age between 32 and 79, were in a Ford Econoline vehicle that was struck by the plane. Two more people are hospitalized in serious condition.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue deployed more than 60 units and about 200 personnel to the scene of the crash. Search and rescue crews were able to locate the victims after firefighters used a specialized foam to extinguish the flames. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Raied “Ray” Jadallah confirmed that the pilot and co-pilot were rescued after being trapped in the cockpit.
Hazardous materials crews were also deployed to the scene to contain the ongoing fuel leak. The public was urged to avoid the airport.
Did Weather Play a Factor in the Crash?
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is on site investigating the cause of the accident. One of the biggest questions to answer will certainly be what role the weather played in the crash. According to an analysis of conditions by AccWeather, there were thunderstorms roaming the area near MIA at the time that the aircraft ran off the runway. Dark clouds and the sound of thunder were observed around the airport between 1:12 pm and 3:25 pm.
A cluster of thunderstorms south of MIA generated a short burst of lightning less than one hour before the accident. There were 134 strikes of lightning observed within 25 miles of the airport; however, no bolts were detected at any point within five miles of the airport.
It was a windy day in South Florida with sustained winds hovering at about 20 mph at the time of the crash. Visibility came in at about 10 miles.
There was no rain observed at MIA until about 90 minutes after the incident. As such, it is not likely that the runway was wet when the plane could not stop in time.
All flight traffic in and out of MIA came to a stop on Sunday afternoon, triggering roughly 250 delays.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said that "Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss."
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