Investigation Underway in Fatal Miami Cargo Plane Crash

An Amazon cargo plane crash at Miami International Airport resulted in the deaths of five people. The crash occurred when the plane overshot the runway, leading to a tragic sequence of events.

Witness Abraham Altamar observed the aftermath of the crash. He described the scene as ‘surreal’ and ‘scary.’ Altamar was on a video call with his wife when he saw one of the pilots emerge from the cockpit, visibly shaken and with injuries. Altamar offered to call emergency services, but the pilot mentioned they had already been contacted.

The pilot then used Altamar’s phone to call his wife, reassuring her of his safety and asking her to inform his mother. His wife, Alexis Altamar, added that the pilot seemed distressed and concerned about his future career prospects.

The pilots involved in the crash were identified as Joseph Carroll, 55, and Jaime Felipe Silva Molina, 37. Both sustained injuries but have been released after treatment, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy. The identification was confirmed through official sources, including a Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office news release and the Federal Aviation Administration’s database.

The crash involved Prime Air Flight 7598, operated by 21 Air. The plane’s landing on September 6, 2026, ended with the aircraft striking navigation equipment, then a van carrying seven maintenance workers, and subsequently impacting a Toyota SUV before halting near Tesla robotaxis. All five victims were inside the two vehicles hit by the plane.

Cellphone footage reportedly shows a crew member evacuating the aircraft post-crash. The NTSB has yet to interview the flight crew. They have retrieved the aircraft’s black boxes, which contain critical voice and flight data, for thorough analysis in Washington, D.C.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy described the devastation at the crash site, noting extensive tire marks and scattered debris. Investigators are considering the potential need for safety features like the Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS) on more runways to prevent similar incidents. This system, which employs crushable materials to safely slow down an aircraft, is already in place at over 70 airports. However, the overrun runway at Miami International Airport already includes a 1,000-foot safety area, a recommended specification.

Both aircraft operator 21 Air and Amazon are cooperating with the ongoing investigation.