Five dead as Amazon cargo plane crashes after overshooting Miami runway

At least five people were killed after an Amazon cargo plane overshot the runway while landing at Miami International Airport on Sunday, crashing into vehicles on the ground and catching fire, officials have confirmed.

Miami-Dade County fire chief Ray Jadallah told reporters that, in addition to the five fatalities, three people were taken to trauma centres in a critical condition, while a further two were treated at a local hospital.

The Boeing 767, operating as Prime Air Flight 7598 and arriving from Puerto Rico, struck several vehicles on landing, trapping some of their occupants and requiring what Jadallah described as a complex extrication effort by specialist rescue teams.

Crews also had to search for and free the pilot and co-pilot, who were trapped in the aircraft; officials did not confirm whether either survived, and declined to take further questions after their initial statements.

Video footage showed thick smoke pouring from the blue-and-white aircraft after it landed at 1:58pm local time. Fire officials said around 60 fire apparatuses and nearly 200 personnel from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded, using foam to extinguish a fire in the engine compartment.

In a statement posted to X, officials said one person had been trapped beneath a vehicle and needed to be freed by specialist technical rescue staff, while hazardous materials units shut down the aircraft's engine and worked to contain a fuel leak. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed it had launched a “go team” to investigate the runway excursion, with Jadallah noting that the exact cause would ultimately be determined jointly by the NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said the company would co-operate fully with any investigation, adding that the business was “heartbroken” by the loss of life and extended sympathy to those affected. Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz described the scene encountered by her officers as “really tragic”, though she said there was no ongoing threat to public safety.

The airport suspended all runway and taxiway operations following the crash, advising travellers to check with airlines directly before heading to the terminal.

According to the Miami Herald, two of the airport's four runways had reopened by Sunday evening, after hours of flight delays and cancellations for commercial passengers. Miami mayor Daniella Levine Cava thanked emergency responders for their swift action, saying fire rescue crews were on scene within seconds of the crash.