Amazon Cargo Plane Crashes at Miami: Flight Recorders Retrieved

Tue Sep 08 2026 00:17:23 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Investigators recover flight recorders from the devastating Amazon cargo plane crash at Miami International Airport as focus shifts to victim recovery.

A Boeing 767-300 operated by 21 Air crashed during an overrun near Miami International Airport, killing five people and leaving five others seriously injured. The National Transportation Safety Board has recovered the flight data and cockpit voice recorders, sending them for analysis as it gathers evidence to determine the cause. The investigation remains in the fact‑finding stage, examining flight history, crew experience, radar data, and weather conditions, while investigators prioritize locating and recovering victims. The incident closed two runways, causing disruptions during a peak holiday travel period. Amazon and 21 Air have expressed condolences and cooperation with authorities.

Amazon Cargo Plane Crashes at Miami

Five people were killed and five others seriously injured when a Boeing 767‑300 operated by 21 Air overshot the runway shortly before 14:00 local time (19:00 BST) on Sunday.

The aircraft landed from a flight arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and subsequently struck two vehicles—a white van carrying seven people and a Toyota Corolla—within the airport perimeter, before coming to rest about 1,300 ft (394 m) beyond the runway.

At the scene, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recovered both the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and dispatched them to its headquarters for detailed evaluation. However, chairwoman Jennifer Homendy emphasized that the immediate priority remains the recovery of victims' bodies and the provision of support to first responders.

"The crash scene was devastating," Homendy said at a press conference. "Our focus right now is on victims and families. The investigation can wait," she added.

In the fact‑finding stage, investigators are collecting evidence about the flight history, crew experience, radar data, aircraft performance, and weather conditions. A separate team will examine the plane’s systems and engines, while a meteorologist will assess the impact of the thunderstorm that was present near the airport just before the incident—reported to have winds gusting up to 26 knots.

The NTSB will also assess whether an engineered materials arresting system (EMAS) should have been present on the runway, a factor that could be key to preventing similar overruns in the future.

Passenger flow at Miami International Airport was severely disrupted: two of the four runways remain closed and arrivals and crews experienced additional delays during the Labor Day holiday weekend, one of the busiest travel periods in the United States.

Amazon has stated it is “heartbroken” by the loss of life and is working closely with authorities, while 21 Air expressed its condolences and cooperation with the ongoing investigation.

The NTSB has appealed to the public for photographs and videos that might aid the investigation. It will issue safety recommendations once the inquiry is complete, with the explicit aim of averting future tragedies.