Amazon Cargo Jet Crash: What Went Wrong in Miami

Amazon freighter crash details are getting clearer: the NTSB says the jet touched down about 1,000 feet long and may have gone to full thrust before leaving the runway in Miami. FreightWaves’ Eric Kulisch breaks down what investigators know so far about the Amazon-contracted 767, the missing braking/safety systems, runway impacts at MIA, and why this load may have been more than just Amazon parcels. Watch for the latest on the Miami cargo plane crash, the NTSB timeline, and what it means for air cargo operators.

A Boeing 767 freighter operated by 21 Air — a small North Carolina-based contractor flying for Amazon — overran the runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday afternoon after arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico on its third flight of the day. The crash killed five of seven people riding in an Econoline van used by an aircraft cleaning contractor, and left wreckage strewn across a road and into a grassy field beyond the airport perimeter.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators said the crew touched down roughly 1,000 feet beyond the intended landing zone, traveling at approximately 150 to 160 miles per hour. The crew struggled to get all three wheels on the ground and, according to flight data, appeared to attempt a go-around by applying full thrust rather than stopping. Investigators also noted the pilots did not appear to activate thrust reversers or speed brakes — flaps that create drag — though whether that was a crew decision or a mechanical failure remains unknown pending pilot interviews.

“The plane was coming fully loaded — it didn’t seem like it was having mostly e-commerce type of Amazon packages. The NTSB said it was mostly loaded with contact lenses,” said Eric Kulisch, who has been covering the crash for FreightWaves.

The cargo detail underscores Amazon Air’s growing role as a third-party logistics carrier. Puerto Rico is a major manufacturing hub for the pharmaceutical industry, and the contact lens shipment suggests a shipper booked available capacity on the Amazon Air network — part of the company’s broader push to open its logistics infrastructure to outside customers beyond its own e-commerce volume.

Two of Miami International’s four runways were closed following the crash. As of the latest update, one runway in the easterly direction has reopened after NTSB teams finished documenting tire skid marks and other physical evidence. DHL Express, a major cargo carrier operating out of Miami, told Kulisch it is not experiencing delays, but the airport is still running below capacity. NTSB officials said they hope to clear the remaining closed runway as soon as perishable evidence is collected, though a full reopening could still be days away. A fuel spill from the aircraft also requires remediation before the fuselage can be moved.

Flight data and cockpit voice recorders were recovered and sent to the NTSB. Investigators planned to release a preliminary readout from the flight data recorder imminently, with a formal preliminary report expected within roughly 30 days. A full investigation report could take a year or more. Pilot interviews were expected to be conducted this week and may clarify whether safety systems failed mechanically or were simply not deployed.

The crash has renewed attention on engineered material arresting systems, known as EMAS — crushable material beds installed at runway ends to slow overrunning aircraft. Miami International does not have one. Kulisch noted that approximately 72 U.S. airports have EMAS installed on at least some runways, meaning the system is far from universal. The NTSB has previously recommended wider adoption. Separately, Kulisch noted that in November 2024, another Amazon cargo plane — that one operated by Cargojet, a Canadian carrier — overran the runway at Vancouver Airport, a different contractor and different circumstances but a similar event.

• Five people died after a 21 Air Boeing 767 contracted by Amazon overran the Miami International runway, touching down about 1,000 feet past the target zone at 150–160 mph.
• The plane was loaded primarily with contact lenses from Puerto Rico, pointing to Amazon Air’s expanding role carrying third-party shippers beyond its own e-commerce network.
• Two of Miami’s four runways closed post-crash; one has since reopened, but full restoration depends on NTSB evidence collection and fuel spill remediation, potentially days away.

This Summary is generated thanks to a transcription of the interview, for the full interview please enjoy the video above.