Five individuals lost their lives in a tragic incident at Miami International Airport when an Amazon cargo plane veered off a runway, as per the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chairperson Jennifer Homendy on Monday. The victims were part of a van carrying seven employees from a cleaning company and an SUV that was struck outside airport premises. Homendy described the crash site as “utter devastation,” without specifying the number of occupants in the SUV or the exact locations of the deceased.
The NTSB chairperson mentioned observing tire marks from the pavement to the grass, a demolished van transporting the cleaning crew, damaged fencing, navigational tools, and the impacted SUV beyond airport boundaries. Both the voice and data recorders from the aircraft have been successfully retrieved by investigators.
Homendy highlighted that the van carrying seven individuals was severely damaged, emphasizing the extensive destruction at the scene. Furthermore, she indicated that additional details, potentially including the plane’s speed from the flight data recorder, would be disclosed on Tuesday. Investigators are focusing on whether the plane landed too late to stop safely.
The absence of engineered material arresting systems (EMAS) at Miami’s runways raised concerns following the incident. While the airport complies with safety regulations due to a substantial safety buffer, the NTSB will evaluate the necessity of EMAS at all airports to prevent such tragedies. The crash halted airport operations, affecting flights, and Amazon pledged full cooperation with the investigation.
The cargo jet involved in the crash, operated by 21 Air, had a lengthy history, having served as a passenger aircraft before its conversion to a cargo plane. The NTSB will scrutinize the maintenance records of the plane, particularly given its previous foreign ownership. Miami International Airport reported closure of two runways, impacting operations due to the accident fallout.