NTSB Investigates Deadly Cargo Plane Crash at Miami Airport

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash of an Amazon cargo plane at Miami International Airport. The incident occurred on Sunday when the plane overshot the runway, resulting in the deaths of five individuals on the ground. The pilots, Captain Joseph Carroll, age 55, and First Officer Jaime Felipe Silva Molina, age 37, have been discharged from the hospital. They are scheduled for interviews on Wednesday morning as part of the investigation, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy announced.

Captain Carroll had logged 7,145 flight hours as of March 31, while Silva Molina had 2,655 flight hours as of August 31. Both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the crash site have been recovered. Homendy stated that the cockpit voice recorder contains over two hours of high-quality audio, and the flight data recorder holds about 55 hours of data. Public release of the recorder’s readout will follow the pilots’ interviews.

We need to talk to the crew and gather their accounts to understand control management, which is crucial information, NTSB’s lead investigator Chihoon Shin explained in a briefing.

In addition to speaking with the crew, investigators plan to consult air traffic controllers and dispatchers present during the crash. On Tuesday, NTSB team members began gathering perishable evidence, including drone images, videos of the aircraft, and tire marks on runways. The plane weighed roughly 252,000 pounds at takeoff, carrying about 32,000 pounds of cargo consisting mostly of contact lenses. Hazardous materials were not found.

NTSB analysis indicates speed brakes and thrust reversers were not deployed during landing. Shin emphasized no speculation would be made regarding their absence, stating an aircraft performance study is planned along with a comprehensive flight data recorder analysis. These steps will provide more clarity on the plane’s performance during landing and whether operations were normal.

Homendy highlighted investigation priorities: examining flight history, crew training and experience, and events preceding impact. The plane, a Boeing 767-33, crashed and collided with vehicles after overrunning the runway, igniting a fire. The crash site lies approximately 1,300 feet from the paved runway, with aerial footage showing vehicle debris belonging to victims.

Two runways at Miami International Airport remained closed Tuesday. Investigators are allowing officials to partially reopen one runway for departures. Attorney Pablo Rojas, not involved in the NTSB investigation, evaluated crash footage and noted the plane’s excessive speed and potential piloting decisions. The landing gear’s contact with the ground appeared inconsistent on the left side, raising mechanical concerns. Despite unanswered questions, no definitive attempt at a go-around was confirmed by NTSB officials.