Five individuals lost their lives in the tragic incident at Miami International Airport on Sunday when an Amazon cargo plane veered off the runway. The victims were occupants of a van transporting seven employees from a cleaning company, and an SUV was struck outside the airport premises, as confirmed by Jennifer Homendy, Chair of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Homendy described the aftermath of the crash as “utter devastation,” highlighting the destruction caused by the Boeing 767 as it veered off the runway. The scene included tire marks from the pavement to the grass, a severely damaged van carrying the cleaning crew, damaged fencing, navigational equipment, and a crushed SUV outside the airport property.
The NTSB has successfully retrieved both the voice and data recorders from the aircraft to aid in the investigation. Further details regarding the incident, including the aircraft’s speed based on flight data recorder analysis, are expected to be disclosed by the NTSB on Tuesday.
Investigations are ongoing to determine if the plane touched down too late to stop safely. The absence of engineered material arresting systems (EMAS) at Miami Airport, which could have prevented the plane from overrunning the runway, has raised safety concerns. The NTSB will delve into whether such systems should be mandatory at all airports to enhance safety measures.
The cargo jet, which came to a halt near two semi-trucks after the crash, appeared intact despite the fire. Experts noted that the plane appeared to have floated above the runway during landing, raising questions about the decision-making process of the pilots and external factors like weather conditions.
The aircraft involved in the crash was a 32-year-old Boeing 767 operated by 21 Air. It had a history of passenger service before being converted to a cargo plane. The tragic incident disrupted airport operations, with two runways at Miami International Airport remaining closed in the aftermath.
Amazon expressed condolences for the lives lost in the incident and pledged full cooperation with the investigation. The company extended sympathies to the affected families and individuals.