Some victims were reportedly trapped inside or underneath vehicles struck by the aircraft and had to be rescued by emergency personnel
By Moses Okorie
Five people have been killed and five others seriously injured after an Amazon cargo aircraft crashed shortly after landing at Miami International Airport on Sunday.
The Boeing 767-300, operated by North Carolina-based charter airline 21 Air, overshot the runway at about 14:00 local time (18:00 GMT), crossed a road and struck several vehicles on the ground before bursting into flames.
Authorities have yet to establish whether those killed were passengers or crew members aboard the aircraft, people on the ground, or a combination of both. The identities of the victims have also not been released.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava confirmed the fatalities and injuries during a news conference on Sunday evening.
“At least five people have lost their lives, and five others are injured,” she said, adding that emergency responders reached the crash site within seconds of the incident.
Miami Fire Chief Raied Jadallah said three of the five injured people were in critical condition.
Some victims were reportedly trapped inside or underneath vehicles struck by the aircraft and had to be rescued by emergency personnel. More than 200 firefighters were deployed to tackle the fire and assist with rescue operations.
21 Air said it was “devastated by the accident involving one of our aircraft in Miami”, while both the airline and Amazon said they were cooperating with investigators.
The cause of the crash remains unknown, with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) leading the investigation.
Investigators are expected to examine video footage of the aircraft’s approach and landing to determine whether it touched down within the designated landing zone and what may have gone wrong afterward.
The NTSB is scheduled to provide an update on the investigation at a news conference on Monday.
Following the crash, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily halted all flights at Miami International Airport.
The incident occurred during the Labor Day weekend, traditionally one of the busiest travel periods in the United States, potentially affecting a large number of passengers.
Officials have urged the public to await the findings of the investigation as authorities work to determine what caused the deadly accident.