Five killed in Miami plane crash were in two vehicles on ground, investigators say

September 8, 2026

An Amazon cargo Boeing 767-300 operated by 21 Air overshot the runway while landing at Miami International Airport on Sunday, killing five people and injuring five others who were all in ground vehicles. The aircraft, arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, crashed through navigational equipment and struck a cleaning company van carrying seven people before breaking through the perimeter fence and colliding with a Toyota Corolla containing three occupants. National Transportation Safety Board investigators have retrieved the flight recorders and are examining multiple factors including crew experience, weather conditions, flight systems, and whether the runway should have had an emergency arresting system.

Who is affected

Five people killed who were in two ground vehicles (seven people in a Ford cleaning van and three people in a Toyota Corolla)
Five people injured from the ground vehicles
Two crew members aboard the Boeing 767-300 cargo plane
Amazon and 21 Air (the aircraft operator)
Airport passengers experiencing flight cancellations and delays
First responders and recovery teams at the crash scene
Contract cleaning company employees whose van was struck

What action is being taken

NTSB investigators are collecting evidence at the crash scene
Recovery teams are prioritizing retrieval of victims' bodies
Flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder are being sent to NTSB headquarters for evaluation
Investigators are examining flight history, crew experience and training, radar data, aircraft performance, systems, engines, and weather conditions
Amazon and 21 Air are cooperating with authorities and the investigation
The NTSB is appealing for public photographs or videos to aid the investigation

Why it matters

This crash represents a significant aviation safety incident that killed five people on the ground rather than aboard the aircraft, highlighting vulnerabilities around airport perimeters and runway safety systems. The investigation into whether an engineered materials arresting system (EMAS) should have been installed could lead to important safety recommendations affecting runway design standards nationwide. The incident occurred during one of the busiest travel periods in the US at a major international airport, demonstrating how runway overruns can have catastrophic consequences beyond the aircraft itself and potentially influence future airport infrastructure requirements.

What's next

The NTSB will make safety recommendations at the end of its investigation
Investigators will assess whether the runway should have had an engineered materials arresting system (EMAS)
Passengers should expect further disruption as two of four runways remain closed

Read full article from source: BBC