Catastrophic Cargo Plane Crash at Miami Airport Kills Five, Shuts Down Major Hub

Catastrophic Cargo Plane Crash at Miami Airport Kills Five, Shuts Down Major Hub

By Paul V. Young – TheNATIONWEEK.com | September 7, 2026

BRISBANE, Australia – A routine cargo flight turned tragic this afternoon as an Amazon-branded Boeing 767-300 overran a runway at Miami International Airport (MIA) during landing, resulting in the deaths of at least five individuals and critically injuring three more. The devastating incident has sent shockwaves through the aviation industry and severely disrupted operations at one of the nation’s busiest airports.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that Prime Air Flight 7598, operated by 21 Air, veered off the runway at approximately 2:00 PM ET after arriving from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The aircraft, a 32-year-old former passenger jet repurposed for cargo in 2015, subsequently struck multiple vehicles and erupted in flames.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, responding with over 60 units, battled a ferocious blaze exacerbated by a persistent fuel leak. Fire Chief Ray Jadallah reported a harrowing scene, with several individuals trapped within motor vehicles impacted by the out-of-control plane. The pilot and co-pilot were also extracted from the aircraft, though the total number of crew members or passengers onboard remains unconfirmed.

Miami-Dade County officials updated the casualty count, confirming five fatalities. In addition to the three critically injured, two others were hospitalized with less severe injuries.

An Amazon spokesperson, Kelly Nantel, acknowledged the “incident” involving the 21 Air-operated plane. “Our absolute priority is the safety, well-being, and care of everyone involved,” Nantel stated. “We’re doing everything we can to support those affected and are working closely with local authorities and officials to understand exactly what happened.”

Dramatic online video captured thick black smoke billowing from the wreckage near the runway, though early observations suggest the aircraft remained largely structurally intact despite the inferno.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has confirmed it is aware of the crash and is initiating a comprehensive investigation into its cause. U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy implemented an immediate ground stop at MIA, warning travelers to anticipate “significant delays.”

This catastrophic event underscores the critical importance of aviation safety and highlights the inherent risks in air cargo operations. As investigations commence, the focus will undoubtedly turn to understanding the factors that led to this deadly runway overrun and ensuring such a tragedy is never repeated.

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