In brief
A Boeing 767-300 operated by 21 Air crashed near Miami International Airport on 7 September 2026, overrunning the runway and striking a cleaning van and a Toyota Corolla. Five people were killed and five were seriously injured. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, sending them to headquarters for analysis. The investigation remains in its fact‑finding stage, with emphasis on locating victims and evaluating runway safety systems such as the engineered materials arresting system (EMAS).
Investigators have recovered the flight recorders from the Amazon cargo plane that crashed at Miami International Airport, but the priority remains the recovery of victims.
The Boeing 767-300, operated by 21 Air, overshot the runway as it attempted to land on 7 September 2026, killing five people and seriously injuring five others.
The aircraft struck a cleaning van carrying seven people and a Toyota Corolla with three passengers.
NTSB chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said it was too early to draw conclusions about what caused the crash, with investigators still in the fact‑finding stage.
During a press conference at Miami International Airport, Homendy noted the aircraft had two crew members on board and was arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, on its third flight of the day.
The plane hit navigational aids and equipment after overrunning the runway, then struck a white Ford van owned by a contract cleaning company, before traveling through a perimeter fence and colliding with a Toyota Corolla. It came to rest about 1,300 ft beyond the runway.
Homendy described the crash scene as "devastating" and noted that recovering victims' bodies was the current priority, adding: "The investigation and access to the aircraft, as well as evidence, can wait."
The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered and are being sent to NTSB headquarters for evaluation.
Investigators will examine flight history, crew experience and training, radar data, and aircraft performance. Separate teams will look at the plane’s systems and engines, while a meteorologist will assess the weather conditions at the time of landing.
The NTSB will also examine whether the runway should have had an engineered materials arresting system (EMAS), which is designed to slow and stop aircraft that overrun a runway. Homendy said this would be a "key" part of the investigation.
Earlier analysis by BBC Verify found an active thunderstorm near the airport shortly before the crash, with winds gusting up to 26 knots.
The NTSB has appealed to the public to share photographs or videos that could aid the investigation.
Amazon said it was "heartbroken" by the loss of life and that it was working closely with authorities. The company operating the aircraft, 21 Air, expressed its condolences and said it was co‑operating with the investigation.
Two of the four runways at the airport remained closed following the crash, and passengers have been warned to expect further disruption after Sunday's cancellations affected the arrival of aircraft and flight crews. The crash occurred during the Labor Day holiday weekend, one of the busiest travel periods in the US.
