Five dead after Amazon cargo plane overruns runway at Miami airport
A Boeing 767-300 operated by 21 Air caught fire and struck vehicles while landing at Miami International Airport. The cause is under investigation.
Five people were killed and five seriously injured after an Amazon Air Boeing 767-300 overran a runway while landing at Miami International Airport, according to Miami-Dade officials.
The aircraft, operated by North Carolina-based charter company 21 Air, had departed from San Juan, Puerto Rico, shortly before the crash at about 2pm local time on Sunday. Miami International Airport said the plane was disabled at the north-western end of the airport after overrunning a diagonal runway.
The aircraft struck several vehicles and caught fire. More than 200 firefighters responded, extinguishing the flames, though officials said a fuel leak remained. Miami Fire Chief Raied Jadallah said three of the five injured people were in critical condition.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash and was due to hold a news conference on Monday. Officials said it was too early to establish the cause.
The Federal Aviation Administration ordered flights grounded, while cancellations and delays affected travellers during the US Labor Day holiday period. Miami International Airport is a major international freight hub.
Amazon said it was working with local authorities, would co-operate fully with the investigation and offered condolences to those affected. The number and condition of people aboard the aircraft were not reported.
