At least five people died and five others were injured when a Boeing 767-300 cargo plane operated by 21 Air crashed after veering off the runway at Miami International Airport on September 6, 2026, according to authorities. The incident occurred around 14:00 local time (20:00 GMT) as the aircraft, which had flown from San Juan, Puerto Rico, attempted to land. The plane collided with multiple vehicles and caught fire, leaving a trail of smoke visible in videos shared on social media.
Five Killed, Five Injured After Amazon Cargo Plane Crashes at Miami Airport
Five people died, and five others were injured and taken to the hospital, said Rosie Cordero-Stutz, the sheriff of Miami-Dade County, during a press conference. Three of the injured were in critical condition, according to Erica Benitez, chief of staff for the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the crash and stated it would investigate the incident.
Emergency Response and Airport Closure
Over 60 units from the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department rushed to the scene to extinguish the fire and rescue trapped victims. The aircraft, registered as N1997A, came to rest on a highway near a logistics facility, with its tail section visible in photographs. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) deployed teams to examine the crash site, while Miami International Airport suspended all takeoffs and landings.
The airport’s closure disrupted air traffic during a busy weekend, with hundreds of flights canceled or delayed. The incident occurred amid the Labor Day travel peak, exacerbating frustration among stranded passengers. The airport is closed, and flights are being rerouted, said a spokesperson for Aerostar Puerto Rico, which reported three American Airlines flights bound for Miami being diverted to San Juan.
Company Statements and Historical Context
Amazon, which operates the plane under its Prime Air division, issued a statement expressing condolences to the victims’ families. We are working closely with local authorities to understand what happened, said Kelly Nantel, Amazon’s spokesperson. Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, also released a statement: Our thoughts are with the injured and all affected by this tragedy. Boeing is cooperating with the NTSB investigation.
The crash echoes a similar incident in 1997 at the same airport, when a cargo plane also veered off the runway, killing five people. In 2019, an Amazon Air plane crashed in Texas, killing all three crew members. The FAA noted the Miami crash involved a Boeing 767-300 that was originally delivered as a passenger aircraft in 1994 before being converted to freight use by a third party.
Investigation and Ongoing Impact
Authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of the deceased or the exact cause of the crash. The NTSB and FAA are conducting a joint investigation, with the NTSB’s team arriving at the scene to analyze the wreckage. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava called the incident a deeply difficult day for our community, adding, My heart goes out to all affected families.
Passengers faced significant disruptions, with some forced to rebook flights or stay in Miami. One traveler, Faroush, told BBC News, The earliest flight I could find to San Francisco was Tuesday morning. I might have to stay in Miami longer. The TSA estimated 2.3 million travelers would have passed through U.S. airports on the day of the crash, highlighting the scale of the disruption.
