MIAMI — At least five people were killed and five others injured after an Amazon cargo plane crashed while landing at Miami International Airport in the United States, local officials said. Three of the injured were in critical condition, while two others were hospitalized.
The aircraft, a Boeing 767-300 operated by 21 Air on behalf of Amazon, was traveling from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Miami when the accident occurred at around 2 p.m. local time, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Officials said the plane overshot the runway during landing and veered toward a nearby road, where it struck several vehicles. The aircraft caught fire immediately after the crash.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said the plane hit multiple vehicles. More than 60 fire and rescue units were deployed to extinguish the blaze and conduct rescue operations.
Fire Rescue Chief Ray Jadallah said several people were trapped inside vehicles following the crash. The pilot and co-pilot were also trapped inside the aircraft.
Authorities have not yet confirmed how many crew members or passengers were aboard the plane. Jadallah said fuel was still leaking from the aircraft several hours after the crash.
Videos circulating online showed thick black smoke rising near the airport following the accident. Although the aircraft was heavily damaged by fire, its main structure appeared to remain largely intact in preliminary footage.
According to flight-tracking website Flightradar24, the aircraft was about 32 years old. It had been used as a passenger aircraft for more than two decades before being converted into a cargo plane in 2015.
Amazon confirmed that the aircraft was operated by 21 Air and described the crash as an “incident.” Company spokesperson Kelly Nantel said Amazon was working closely with local authorities to determine what caused the accident.
The company said the safety, well-being and support of those affected by the crash were its top priorities.
The accident caused major disruptions to air traffic at Miami International Airport. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said all flight operations at the airport had been temporarily suspended following the crash, and travelers were warned to expect significant delays.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.
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