Five people have died after an Amazon Air cargo plane crashed at Miami International Airport. The Boeing 767-300 cargo aircraft overshot the runway while attempting to land shortly before 14:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Sunday. The plane had departed from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and also struck several vehicles on the ground.
Amazon stated that it is "working closely with local authorities and officials to understand exactly what happened".
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered all flights to be grounded as fire crews responded to the smoking crash site. The incident occurred over the Labor Day weekend, a period of high travel volume.
"At least five people have lost their lives, and five others are injured," Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced at a press conference on Sunday evening. She noted that rescue crews arrived at the scene "within seconds" of the crash.
"Right now, our focus is on the families, those who were injured, and the ongoing response," she added.
Three of the five injured individuals are in critical condition, according to Miami Fire Chief Raied Jadallah. The mayor confirmed they were all transported to the hospital with "unknown injuries".
Jadallah reported that several of the injured were trapped in or under vehicles on the ground and required extrication by fire and rescue teams.
Officials have stated that the cause of the crash is premature to determine and will be investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The NTSB, responsible for investigating all air crashes in the US, is scheduled to hold a press conference on Monday.
The Amazon flight, operated by charter company 21 Air based in North Carolina, "overran Miami International Airport's diagonal runway and is disabled at the northwest end of the airport," according to a statement from the airport.
Miami Dade Fire Rescue reported that crews "arrived to find an airplane that had caught on fire as a result of this crash, with heavy flames and smoke showing".
Over 200 firefighters responded to the incident. While the flames were extinguished, a fuel leak persists at the site, Jadallah said.
Amazon released a statement expressing its work with authorities and offering condolences to the victims. "We're heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today's incident at Miami International Airport," said Kelly Nantel, Amazon's Director of Corporate Global Media Relations. "Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss.
"The airplane, which was operated by 21 Air, was attempting to land when this incident occurred. We're working closely with local authorities and officials to learn more and will cooperate fully with any investigation."
The BBC has reached out to 21 Air for comment but has not yet received a response.
Flight data from FlightRadar24 indicates the Amazon cargo flight was traveling at 112 knots (129 mph, 207 km/h) when it exited the runway. The site noted in a blog post that the plane came to rest near a parking lot serving an Amazon warehouse and other businesses.
Light thunderstorms and gusty winds were present in Miami at the time of the incident, according to FlightRadar24.
This crash occurs during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year in the US.
Passengers at Miami International Airport expressed frustration over the lack of information from officials, with numerous flights canceled or delayed due to the incident. Long queues formed at airline counters as travelers attempted to rebook their journeys, with some facing an additional night's stay in Miami.
The Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) projected that 17 million travelers would pass through US airports in the week leading up to the Labor Day holiday on Monday, with an estimated 2.3 million flying on Sunday alone.
Miami International Airport (MIA), situated near downtown Miami, is one of the busiest airports in the nation. According to its website, MIA, founded in 1928, is America's busiest airport for international freight and second busiest for international passengers, offering more flights to Latin America and the Caribbean than any other US airport. Approximately 60% of all international visitors to Florida arrive via MIA.
