Amazon suspends operations of 21 Air planes that overflew runway at Miami airport, killing five

Nearly a week after a cargo plane overshot the runway at Miami International Airport, crashing into nearby vehicles and killing at least five people, Amazon announced it would suspend operations with 21 Air, the cargo carrier operating the plane. The plane came to rest about 1,300 feet short of the runway and its right engine caught fire.

Amazon said it informed 21 Air management of the decision on Sunday (local time), with spokeswoman Kelly Nantel saying: “Safety has always been our top priority, whether in our own operations or when working with partners.” Nantel added, “We will continue to work to support the investigation and all those affected,” The Wall Street Journal reported.

Here is what happened

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), on September 6, a Boeing 767-300, operated by 21 Air as Prime Air Flight 7598, overran the runway around 2:00 p.m. (local time) after arriving from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The plane came to a stop at the northwest end of Miami International Airport and was later taken out of service, according to airport officials.

The accident prompted a large-scale emergency response, with more than 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units arriving at the scene. Emergency crews faced intense flames and thick black smoke as they worked to extinguish the fire and assess the victims.

Miami-Dade fire officials said the plane struck several vehicles after it ran off the runway. Images from the scene showed the cargo plane lying on its underside near the road, with its tail up and visible burn damage along its right side.

FAA, NTSB investigate crash

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA are investigating the incident. Last week, investigators released details suggesting both pilots belatedly decided to attempt another landing before finally using the brakes to bring the plane to a stop. The NTSB is examining 21 Air’s safety practices, its business deal with Amazon and the actions of the pilots as part of its investigation into the crash.

According to a preliminary investigation, one of the pilots of the cargo plane repeatedly warned about two minutes in advance that they were coming in too fast and urged them to abort the landing at the last second.

A 32-year-old plane involved in a crash

Citing data from the Planespotters website, Bloomberg noted that the cargo plane that collided with several vehicles was more than 32 years old and first flew in June 1994. It has changed hands over the years, including operations for Air Europa, Kenya Airways and cargo specialist Atlas Air. In 2016, it was converted to a cargo plane.

21 Air’s Amazon cargo operations

21 Air is a small cargo ship owned by Jim Crane, a logistics magnate and owner of the Houston Astros. The airline flies for carriers such as Amazon and DHL Express.

21 Air began operating Boeing 767-300 freighters for Amazon in 2024. The aircraft have since become a key part of Amazon’s air cargo network, operating alongside larger Airbus A330 freighters and smaller Boeing 737 aircraft. The freighter operates around 17 aircraft, eight of which are used by Amazon.

Although Boeing no longer manufactures the 767 as a commercial passenger aircraft, it continues to produce versions of the aircraft for military aerial refueling operations.