A routine landing at Miami International Airport turned into a deadly disaster. What went wrong?
An Amazon Air Boeing 767-300 cargo plane crashed shortly before 14:00 local time after flying in from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The aircraft overshot the runway, struck vehicles on the ground and caught fire, killing five people and seriously injuring five others.
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said rescue crews reached the scene within “seconds” as firefighters worked to free people trapped inside or beneath vehicles.
Three of the injured are reportedly in critical condition.
More than 200 firefighters responded, eventually bringing the flames under control. But a fuel leak remained at the crash site.
Investigators Probe Crash Cause
Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft was travelling at about 129mph as it left the usable runway, while light thunderstorms and gusty winds were reported in Miami.
Still, officials stressed that it is far too early to determine the cause.
The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation, with more details expected after its planned briefing.
For Amazon, the tragedy has prompted condolences and a pledge to cooperate fully.
For travellers, meanwhile, the crash caused widespread delays during one of America’s busiest holiday weekends.
A busy airport. A split-second disaster. And now, investigators must explain exactly what happened.
