Amazon Cargo Plane Crash Investigation at Miami International Airport

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) provided an update on the investigation into the crash of an Amazon cargo plane at Miami International Airport. The crash occurred when the plane overshot the runway, collided with two vehicles, and burst into flames.

Fatalities and Injuries

The incident resulted in five deaths and injuries to at least five others, according to officials. Jennifer Homendy, NTSB Chair, stated that all those who died were in the two vehicles hit during the crash.

The victims were in a Ford Econoline van and a Toyota Corolla Cross LE. The van belonged to the Professional Ocean Service Corporation, a cleaning company contracted by airlines.

Flight Details

Amazon Air Flight 7598, operated by 21 Air LLC, was a Boeing 767-33 Alpha that had traveled from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The flight had completed several trips, including stops in Cincinnati and Miami.

The plane overran runway 30, impacting navigational aids and progressing 1,300 feet past the runway’s paved surface.

Recorders and Investigation

The NTSB successfully recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, sending them to headquarters for analysis. Homendy noted the presence of 32 personnel on site, but full access to the aircraft was restricted due to ongoing recovery operations.

Investigative Focus

Moving forward, the investigation will cover various specialized areas such as human performance, airplane systems, and meteorology. One area of interest is whether an Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS), designed to stop overrunning aircraft, could have impacted the outcome.

Investigators will examine the relationship between Amazon and 21 Air, specifically looking into any safety provisions within their contracts.

Aircraft Age and Ownership

The plane, manufactured in 1994, will be scrutinized for its age and ownership history as part of the investigation.

NTSB’s Broader Efforts

Homendy emphasized the importance of implementing NTSB recommendations to prevent future incidents, highlighting the agency’s involvement in over 3,000 runway excursions since 2008.

Although the NTSB won’t determine the probable cause onsite, the team aims to document and collect evidence that could be perishable. This initial phase is expected to last at least a week.

Homendy expressed gratitude for the assistance from officials at various levels and shared condolences with affected families.

The NTSB plans to hold another briefing and encourages submissions of relevant media to [email protected].