Runway crash in Miami kills 5 aboard Amazon contractor jet

An Amazon cargo plane skidded off the runway upon landing at Miami International Airport on the 6th, triggering an immediate emergency response across the airfield. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue dispatched over 60 emergency vehicles to fight the intense fire that erupted immediately following the impact.

The Federal Aviation Administration stated that the aircraft was a Boeing 767-300 operating flight 7598 under charter carrier 21 Air. The flight departed Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and crashed after touchdown at approximately 2:00 p.m. local time. Local authorities confirmed at least five fatalities during a press conference held shortly after the crash.

Miami International Airport officials reported that the jet traveled across the entire length of the diagonal runway before coming to rest at the northwest perimeter of the airfield, prompting ground crews to halt all airport operations and close movement areas immediately.

Emergency crews mobilize two hundred responders near airport perimeter

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue noted in a 6:25 p.m. bulletin that emergency dispatchers received the initial calls for assistance at 1:55 p.m. The response deployed 200 rescue personnel alongside more than 60 emergency vehicles to manage the runway crisis.

Read also: Amazon cargo aircraft overshoots Miami runway, claiming five lives and sparking federal inquiry

The freighter struck several vehicles before breaching the boundary of the operations apron. Firefighters encountered violent flames upon reaching the wreckage. Heavy plumes of black smoke blanketed the entire runoff zone.

Airport crash rescue units sprayed foam to extinguish the stubborn fire concentrated around the engine compartment. Additional teams searched thoroughly through the twisted metal in search of survivors.

Technical rescue specialists extricated one trapped person from beneath a crushed vehicle as hazardous materials teams shut down the jet engines and contained a major fuel spill.

Paramedics from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue rushed five injured individuals to area hospitals. The preliminary department update did not detail the medical condition of those patients.

Crews remained around the crash site to monitor pooled aviation fuel once responders extinguished the fire. The fire department stated there was no direct hazard to the Miami-Dade community. Officials advised nearby residents to avoid traveling near airport grounds.

Amazon and contracted carrier issue statements following fatal accident

Amazon reported that the freighter flew as part of the Amazon Air fleet under the operational control of 21 Air. Spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated that the company is collaborating with investigating authorities to determine the factors behind the crash.

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“We are still gathering details,” said spokesperson Kelly Nantel. The representative stressed that personal safety guides the immediate response. Supporting those affected remains the priority for the corporate team.

The Federal Aviation Administration initiated a formal inquiry to establish why the aircraft veered off course. The investigation remains active.