At least five people died after an Amazon cargo plane operated by 21 Air overran the runway and crashed during landing at Miami International Airport, according to local authorities. The flight, designated as Prime Air flight 7598 and utilizing a Boeing 767-300, departed from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, before the fatal incident occurred around 2:00 p.m. local time on Sunday, September 6, 2026, as confirmed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and local officials.
Casualties and Emergency Response at Miami International Airport
Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz confirmed during a press conference that five individuals lost their lives in the crash. According to Erica Benitez, chief of staff for the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department, another five people sustained injuries and were transported to local hospitals. Three of those hospitalized are in critical condition, as reported by Benitez.
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More than 60 units from the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department responded to the scene, where responders encountered heavy smoke and intense flames. Miami-Dade Fire Chief Ray Jadallah stated that the aircraft collided with a pair of vehicles on a nearby roadway, trapping multiple people inside both the cars and the aircraft’s engine compartments. Rescue crews executed a complex operation to extract the victims, including the pilot and co-pilot who were trapped inside the aircraft, according to Jadallah.
Flight Disruptions and Impact on Regional Travel
Following the crash, airport officials announced that the Boeing 767-300 came to rest in the northeast section of the airfield. Miami International Airport temporarily suspended all arriving and departing flights, closing all runways and taxiways immediately after the accident, though two of the four runways were later reopened by Sunday evening.
The suspension of Miami operations forced carriers to reroute flights across the region. Aerostar Puerto Rico, the company operating San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, reported that three American Airlines flights bound for Miami were diverted to San Juan. The affected flights include American Airlines flight 3465 from Dominica, flight 2691 from Fort-de-France in Martinica, and flight 4316 from Maracaibo, Venezuela, according to Aerostar Puerto Rico.
Historical Safety Context and Ongoing Investigation
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated that the company is cooperating closely with local authorities to determine the exact cause of the crash, emphasizing that safety and the well-being of those affected remain the primary focus. The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate.
This incident marks another fatal accident involving a cargo aircraft operating for Amazon Prime Air. In February 2019, Atlas Air flight 3591—a Boeing 767-300 cargo plane operating for Amazon Prime Air in the route Miami-Houston—experienced a rapid descent and crashed in the bay of Trinity, resulting in the deaths of all three people on board.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the Amazon cargo plane crash in Miami?
The Federal Aviation Administration and local authorities are currently investigating the incident. Official reports confirm that Prime Air flight 7598 overran the runway after landing and collided with vehicles on a nearby road.
How many people were affected by the accident?
According to Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz and fire rescue officials, five people died and five others were injured, with three victims currently reported in critical condition.
Which airline operated the flight for Amazon?
The flight was operated by 21 Air utilizing a Boeing 767-300 cargo aircraft, according to statements released by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Are flights operating normally at Miami International Airport?
Following a temporary total shutdown of all runways and taxiways, airport officials gradually reopened two of the four runways, though some flight delays and diversions remain in effect.
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