MIAMI, FL – The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office announced Sunday afternoon that five people died and five others are injured after an Amazon-branded cargo plane crashed just outside Miami International Airport.
According to airport officials, Flight 7598, operated by 21 Air, overran the airport’s diagonal runway just before 2 p.m. and struck multiple vehicles on the ground. At a news conference, Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said the plane came to rest at a field next to the airport.
“Investigators will be looking into several factors including the condition of the runway, air traffic control, weather, or any mechanical issues with the aircraft,” said aviation attorney Pablo Rojas of Podhurst Orseck.
The Boeing 767-300 cargo aircraft departed from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The Miami-Dade Fire Chief said five other people were injured and taken to the hospital, three of them in critical condition.
More than 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the scene. The Fire Chief said a search-and-rescue operation was launched to retrieve the pilot and the co-pilot, who were trapped in the plane, and a technical rescue team conducted a complex extrication for people who were stuck inside the vehicles.
An Amazon spokesperson released a statement saying, “We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today’s incident at Miami International Airport. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss.”
A hotline has been set up for relatives of people who may have been involved in the accident.
“Unfortunately for holiday weekend travelers this will be a significant disruption. Until it’s known how the crash happened there is no guarantee the runway itself is safe,” said Rojas.
Podhurst Orseck continues to monitor developments from this crash.
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The firm has represented victims and families in hundreds of aviation matters involving commercial airlines, private aircraft, manufacturers, insurers, and international crashes.
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