A Miami International Airport cargo plane crash left five dead and five injured after the aircraft overran the runway, with a witness recalling one pilot saying, My career is over,
according to sources.
A witness described a pilot from the crashed Amazon cargo plane at Miami International Airport expressing distress over his career following the incident, which killed five people and injured five others. Abraham Altamar, a warehouse worker near the airport, encountered one of the pilots, 37-year-old Jaime Felipe Silva Molina, who was visibly shaken and asked to use Altamar’s phone to call his wife, the WPBF reported.
Witness Describes Shaken Pilot’s Concerns
Altamar said Molina, one of the two pilots aboard the Prime Air cargo jet, appeared “shaking” and “stressed” after the crash, with cuts to his forehead and arm. The pilot reportedly told Altamar, Oh my career, my career is over,
before being taken to a hospital and released. Local10.com confirmed the account, noting Molina’s injuries were minor.
Altamar recounted the encounter, stating, He was like shaking, of course, that was a lot for any human being to be a part of,
said Altamar. I noticed that he had this bruise on his hand and his forehead; that’s all I noticed. He didn’t seem to be injured with something serious.
Altamar also said Molina had cuts to his forehead and arm. The other pilot, 55-year-old Joseph Carroll, also suffered minor injuries and was treated and released from a hospital.
Miami plane crash witness recalls pilot’s distress
NTSB Investigates Excessive Speed and Glide Path
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are analyzing cockpit voice recordings and data from the crash, which occurred as the plane was “coming in hot” with excessive airspeed and above the glide path, according to former U.S. Department of Transportation inspector general Mary Schiavo. WPBF cited her remarks, which highlighted the plane’s too much airspeed and above the glide path.
The NTSB revealed that seconds before the crash, the plane’s throttles were set to full power. However, onboard data showed no indication that speed brakes or thrust reversers, systems designed to slow down a plane, were deployed during the incident. Schiavo stated, They were coming in hot, meaning too much airspeed, and they were above the glide path that they were supposed to be on to get down.
Crew interviews are expected to shed light on whether the pilots attempted to abort the landing before the runway overrun.
Witness describes shaken pilot moments after fatal cargo plane
Pilots’ Background and Crash Details
The pilots, identified as Carroll and Molina, were scheduled to speak with investigators about their actions before the crash. The plane collided with vehicles near the runway, including a cleaning company van carrying seven people. Five of the van’s occupants were killed, and five others were injured, according to WPBF.
Altamar said he encountered Molina after the crash and offered to call 911, but Molina instead asked to use his phone to call his wife. I just asked him if he wanted me to call 911, but he’s like, ‘No, I need your phone to call my wife,’
Altamar said. Molina reportedly had a bruise on his hand and forehead, which Altamar noted was all I noticed.
The NTSB plans to release the cockpit voice recordings for further analysis, with investigators emphasizing the need to understand the situation by reviewing the pilots’ actions.
Next Steps in the Investigation
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Authorities have not yet released the full cockpit voice recordings, but the NTSB’s preliminary findings suggest the aircraft’s excessive speed throughout the remainder of the recording, as noted by WPBF.
The NTSB is investigating the crash, with officials stating that the pilots’ actions before the runway overrun remain under scrutiny. The agency’s preliminary report indicated that the plane’s throttles were at full power seconds before impact, but no speed brakes or thrust reversers were deployed.
Investigators plan on releasing the cockpit voice recordings for further analysis on Wednesday. The NTSB has not yet determined the exact cause of the crash but is focusing on the pilots’ decisions and the aircraft’s performance during the final moments.
The crash has raised questions about aviation safety protocols, particularly regarding speed management and glide path adherence.
Altamar described the scene as difficult to comprehend,
emphasizing the shock of witnessing the plane’s fiery overrun. The incident has prompted renewed scrutiny of cargo plane operations and the measures in place to prevent similar accidents.
