Five dead after Amazon cargo plane crashes at Miami airport

What the report says

Five people were killed and five others were seriously injured when an Amazon Air cargo jet overshot the runway while landing at Miami International Airport, according to BBC World News. The Boeing 767-300, operated by charter carrier 21 Air, had flown from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and came to rest near the airport’s northwest end after striking vehicles on the ground and catching fire. The airport and emergency officials said several of the injured were trapped in or under vehicles before being rescued.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said rescue crews reached the scene within seconds, while fire officials described heavy smoke and flames before more than 200 firefighters brought the blaze under control. Three of the injured were reported to be in critical condition. Flights at Miami International were temporarily grounded as crews responded, and officials said there was still a fuel leak at the site after the fire was extinguished.

Amazon said it was working with authorities and expressed condolences to the victims’ families. The cause of the crash has not been determined, and the National Transportation Safety Board is expected to investigate. As reported by BBC World News, the crash disrupted travel during the Labor Day weekend, one of the busiest periods of the year in the United States. More generally, Miami International Airport is a major US hub for international freight and travel to Latin America and the Caribbean.