Five people were killed and five others injured Sunday after an Amazon-branded cargo plane overshot a runway at Miami International Airport and crashed into vehicles beyond the airport grounds.
The Boeing 767-300, operated by 21 Air as Flight 7598, was arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, shortly before 2 p.m. when it overran Runway 30, according to flight-tracking data cited in reports.
The aircraft continued beyond the runway, struck several vehicles and eventually came to rest in a nearby parking area.
Images and video circulating from the scene showed the large cargo jet surrounded by damaged vehicles and debris following the crash.
The parking area reportedly contained several Tesla vehicles, including Cybertrucks and Cybercabs, when the aircraft came through the area.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Raied Jadallah said five people died as a result of the crash.
Another five people were injured.
Three of those victims were transported to a trauma center in critical condition, while two others were taken to a local hospital for treatment, according to officials.
Details about whether the fatalities included people aboard the aircraft or individuals on the ground were not immediately clear in the initial reports.
The identities of those killed had also not been publicly released as authorities worked to notify relatives and investigate the scene.
The crash prompted a major emergency response around Miami International Airport, with firefighters, police and other first responders converging on the wreckage.
Flight operations at one of the nation’s busiest airports were affected following the incident.
Flightradar24 reported that departures had resumed at Miami International Airport by approximately 5 p.m. Eastern time, several hours after the crash.
The aircraft was carrying Amazon branding, though it was operated by cargo carrier 21 Air.
Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said the company was still working to gather information about what happened.
“This is a fast-moving situation and we’re still gathering details,” Nantel said.
“We’re working closely with local authorities and officials to understand exactly what happened,” she continued.
Nantel said Amazon’s immediate focus was on those affected by the deadly incident.
“Right now, our absolute priority is the safety, well-being, and care of everyone involved,” she said.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was gathering information about the accident and coordinating with the Federal Aviation Administration as investigators begin determining what caused the aircraft to leave the runway.
No official cause had been announced Sunday evening.
Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, weather conditions, runway conditions, crew communications, flight data and other evidence as part of the investigation.
Authorities had also not immediately said whether the plane experienced a mechanical problem during its approach or landing.
The Boeing 767 is a wide-body aircraft that has long been used for both passenger and freight operations. Cargo versions of the aircraft are widely used by companies transporting packages and freight across the US and internationally.
Flight 7598 had traveled from San Juan to Miami before the accident.
The crash quickly drew widespread attention because of the dramatic footage showing the jet outside the runway area and the number of vehicles damaged in its path.
Footage appeared to show substantial destruction around the final resting position of the aircraft, including multiple damaged vehicles in the parking area.
Emergency crews remained at the scene Sunday as investigators began documenting the wreckage and determining the sequence of events that led to the runway overrun.
The NTSB and FAA investigation is expected to focus on why the aircraft was unable to stop before reaching the end of Runway 30 and how it continued far enough to strike vehicles, per ZeroHedge.
Officials had not provided a timetable for when investigators might release preliminary findings.
The death toll makes the incident one of the most serious aviation accidents involving a cargo aircraft at a major US airport in recent years.
Authorities are expected to release additional information about the victims, crew members and circumstances surrounding the crash as the investigation progresses.
