MIAMI (Diya TV) — At least five people died and five others were injured Sunday after an Amazon cargo plane overran a runway at Miami International Airport and struck several vehicles, officials said.
The Boeing 767-300, operated by North Carolina-based 21 Air for Amazon Prime Air, left the runway and came to rest in a nearby field. The crash sparked a fire and caused a fuel leak.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue sent more than 60 units to the scene. Firefighters found the aircraft burning and used foam and airport firefighting equipment to control the flames.
Rescue crews also worked to free people trapped inside vehicles struck by the aircraft.
Three of the five injured people were taken to a trauma center in critical condition. Two others were treated at local hospitals. Authorities have not released the victims’ names.
Officials have not said whether the five people who died were aboard the aircraft or on the ground. Authorities also did not immediately provide information about the condition of the pilot and co-pilot.
The crash prompted a temporary ground stop at Miami International Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration issued the order at about 2:30 p.m. ET while emergency crews responded.
Two runways later reopened, and the FAA lifted the ground stop after about three hours. Significant delays and possible cancellations continued into Sunday evening.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue also reported an active fuel leak near the aircraft. Crews worked to contain the leak, and officials said there was no ongoing threat to the public.
Amazon confirmed that one of its cargo aircraft was involved in the crash and said it would cooperate with investigators.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel expressed condolences to the families of those killed. 21 Air CEO Keith Winters also offered condolences and said the airline would assist with the investigation.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.
The FAA said the Boeing 767-300 had arrived from San Juan, Puerto Rico. According to Flightradar24, the aircraft was about 32 years old and had been converted from passenger to cargo service in 2015.
Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, flight data, runway conditions, weather and other factors to determine why the plane overran the runway.
