Amazon Air Cargo Jet Overruns Miami Runway, Killing Five

An Amazon Air cargo flight overran its runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday, September 6, 2026, resulting in five deaths and five injuries. The aircraft breached the airport perimeter, striking two ground vehicles in a sequence that NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy described as "utter devastation."

Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-300 Alpha operated by Miami-based 21 Air LLC, was arriving from Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. According to investigators, the aircraft overran runway 30 at 1:53 p.m. ET, traveling approximately 1,300 feet past the paved surface. Preliminary data from Flightradar24 indicates the plane was traveling at approximately 128 mph as it left the runway.

The aircraft first struck a 2012 white Ford Econoline van owned by Professional Ocean Service Corporation, an aircraft cleaning company, which was carrying seven people inside the airport perimeter. The jet then continued through the perimeter fence, striking a Toyota Corolla Cross SUV located outside the airport grounds. All five fatalities and five injuries were limited to the occupants of these two vehicles. Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated the company was "heartbroken" to learn of the loss of life.

Operational Context

The flight was on its third leg of the day, having followed a route from Cincinnati to Miami, then to San Juan, before returning to Miami. The scale of the emergency response was significant; Miami-Dade Fire Rescue deployed roughly 200 personnel to conduct search and rescue operations and mitigate a fuel leak at the crash site. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded by issuing a ground stop at Miami International Airport that lasted approximately three hours.

Industry Implications

This incident underscores the catastrophic risks associated with runway overruns, particularly when aircraft exit the secure airfield and enter areas occupied by ground personnel and public traffic. The tragedy follows a similar fatal UPS cargo crash in Louisville last year, intensifying scrutiny over cargo operation safety. The NTSB investigation will now focus on crew training, company operating procedures, and the mechanical integrity of the aircraft components to determine why the Boeing 767 failed to stop.

Next Steps

Investigators have already recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder for evaluation. The NTSB's final report will be required to determine if the overrun was caused by pilot error, mechanical failure, or environmental factors. Until then, the industry remains on alert for systemic failures in cargo landing protocols.