An Amazon Prime Air cargo plane overran the runway while landing at Miami International Airport on September 6, 2026, crossed beyond the airport boundary and struck multiple vehicles before catching fire.
At least five people were killed and five others were injured, including three who were reported in critical condition. The Boeing 767-300 was flying from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Miami as Prime Air Flight 7598 and was operated by 21 Air for Amazon.
The key question is now why the aircraft could not stop on the runway. Investigators have not yet established a final cause. The NTSB is examining the landing, aircraft performance, weather and other factors that may have contributed to the runway overrun.
Amazon Miami Plane Crash: Fast Facts
| What to know | Latest information |
|---|---|
| Date | September 6, 2026 |
| Airport | Miami International Airport (MIA) |
| Flight | Prime Air Flight 7598 / 21 Air Flight 7598 |
| Aircraft | Boeing 767-300 cargo plane |
| Registration | N1997A |
| Route | San Juan, Puerto Rico → Miami |
| What happened | Aircraft overran runway while landing |
| Runway | Runway 30 |
| Speed as it exited usable runway | About 112 knots / 129 mph, according to Flightradar24 data |
| Ground impact | Multiple vehicles struck beyond the runway |
| Deaths | At least 5 |
| Injured | 5, including 3 critically injured |
| Fire | Aircraft caught fire after the crash |
| Emergency response | More than 60 units and about 200 firefighters |
| Investigation | NTSB and FAA |
| Final cause | Not yet determined |
| Previous Amazon-linked fatal crash | Atlas Air Flight 3591, 2019 |
| 2019 deaths | 3 |
The aircraft touched down at about 1:53 p.m. local time, according to flight-tracking data, and was traveling at about 112 knots as it left the usable runway area.
What happened to the Amazon plane in Miami?
The Boeing 767-300 was approaching Miami after departing Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan.
At about 2 p.m., the aircraft landed on Miami International Airport’s Runway 30 but did not stop within the runway area.
It continued beyond the runway, crossed a road and struck several vehicles near the airport.
The plane came to rest outside the runway area and caught fire. Images from the scene showed the aircraft resting with its nose down and tail raised.
The pilot and co-pilot were trapped inside the aircraft after the impact. Rescue crews also had to free people from vehicles struck by the plane.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said more than 60 units and roughly 200 firefighters responded. Crews dealt with the aircraft fire and a fuel leak while rescuing people at the scene.
Why did the Amazon plane crash?
The official cause is not known yet.
That is the most important point in the investigation.
The aircraft’s runway overrun is established, but investigators have not said that one particular factor caused it.
The NTSB is examining how the aircraft approached the runway, where it touched down, how quickly it was traveling, its braking performance and the conditions at the airport.
Was the plane going too fast?
Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 showed the aircraft at approximately 112 knots, or about 129 mph, as it exited the usable runway.
That number alone does not establish that the aircraft was traveling too fast for the landing.
Investigators need to determine the aircraft’s approach speed, touchdown speed, weight, configuration and braking performance before drawing conclusions.
Did the plane land too far down the runway?
This is another major question.
A plane needs sufficient runway remaining after touchdown to slow down safely. Investigators are examining the aircraft’s touchdown point and whether it landed farther along the runway than expected.
AP reported that the NTSB is specifically looking at whether the aircraft landed too far down the runway.
Did bad weather cause the crash?
Weather conditions were difficult around the time of the accident.
Flight-tracking and weather data showed thunderstorms and gusting winds around Miami. Flightradar24 reported winds of about 17 knots with gusts up to 26 knots at the time of landing.
But there is currently no official finding that weather caused the crash.
Investigators will determine whether wind direction, gusts, thunderstorms or changing conditions affected the aircraft’s landing performance.
Did the runway or airport layout play a role?
Investigators are also examining what happened after the aircraft reached the end of the runway.
AP reported that Miami International Airport does not have certain FAA-recommended engineered arresting systems that can help stop aircraft that overrun a runway.
That does not mean the absence of such a system caused this accident.
It is part of the broader safety question: once the aircraft left the runway, what protections were available to stop it before it reached the road and surrounding vehicles?
Why did the crash cause so many casualties?
The aircraft did not remain inside the airport’s runway area.
After overrunning the runway, it crossed onto a road and hit multiple vehicles.
That turned a runway accident into a crash involving people on the ground as well as the aircraft crew.
The aircraft then caught fire, while firefighters also had to deal with a fuel leak.
At least five people died and five were injured. Three of the injured were reported to be in critical condition.
What happened at Miami International Airport after the crash?
The airport temporarily stopped operations after the crash.
All runways and taxiways were initially closed, and the FAA issued a ground stop while emergency crews worked at the scene.
The disruption continued after flights began to resume.
AP reported more than 160 cancellations and 325 delays, while passengers faced long lines and significant uncertainty over departures.
Miami International Airport is also a major cargo hub, making the incident significant beyond passenger travel.
Who operated the Amazon Prime Air plane?
The aircraft carried Amazon Prime Air branding, but Amazon was not the aircraft’s operating airline.
The Boeing 767-300 was operated by 21 Air on behalf of Amazon.
It was flying as Prime Air Flight 7598 from San Juan to Miami. The aircraft’s registration was N1997A.
The 32-year-old aircraft had originally been used as a passenger aircraft before being converted to a freighter.
Has Amazon had a plane crash before?
Yes.
The Miami accident is the second fatal crash involving an aircraft operating for Amazon Prime Air, according to Reuters. The earlier accident happened in 2019 and also involved a Boeing 767 cargo aircraft.
What happened in the 2019 Amazon cargo plane crash?
On February 23, 2019, Atlas Air Flight 3591 was flying from Miami to Houston with cargo for Amazon.com Services LLC and the U.S. Postal Service.
The Boeing 767 rapidly descended from about 6,000 feet and crashed into a marshy area of Trinity Bay, Texas, about 40 miles from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
All three people aboard died: the captain, first officer and a non-revenue pilot traveling in the jump seat.
The flight was operated by Atlas Air for Amazon. It was not an Amazon-operated airline flight, just as the 2026 Miami aircraft was operated by 21 Air for Amazon.
What caused the 2019 Amazon-linked crash?
The 2019 accident has a final NTSB finding, unlike the 2026 Miami crash.
The NTSB determined that the first officer responded inappropriately to an inadvertent activation of the aircraft’s go-around mode. That led to spatial disorientation and nose-down control inputs, sending the aircraft into a steep descent from which the crew did not recover.
The NTSB also found that the captain did not adequately monitor the aircraft’s flight path or intervene effectively. Industry selection and performance-measurement practices were also identified as contributing factors.
2019 vs 2026 Amazon-linked crashes
| 2019 Atlas Air 3591 | 2026 Prime Air Flight 7598 | |
|---|---|---|
| Route | Miami → Houston | San Juan → Miami |
| Aircraft | Boeing 767 cargo | Boeing 767-300 cargo |
| Operator | Atlas Air | 21 Air |
| Amazon connection | Cargo for Amazon | Operated for Amazon |
| Accident | Rapid descent | Runway overrun |
| Location | Trinity Bay, Texas | Miami International Airport |
| Deaths | 3 | At least 5 |
| Cause | Determined by NTSB | Still under investigation |
The two accidents therefore have very different circumstances, even though both involved Boeing 767 cargo aircraft operating for Amazon.
What investigators will look at next
The NTSB has sent a team to Miami to investigate the crash.
The investigation is expected to focus on:
- the aircraft’s approach;
- touchdown location;
- landing and ground speed;
- braking and aircraft systems;
- runway condition;
- wind and weather;
- crew actions;
- aircraft maintenance and operating history;
- runway safety features;
- flight-data recorder information;
- cockpit voice recorder information.
The NTSB is leading the federal investigation, while the FAA is also investigating the accident. Amazon, Boeing and 21 Air have said they will cooperate with investigators.
What is known — and what is still unknown
Known: Prime Air Flight 7598 overran Runway 30 at Miami International Airport.
Known: The Boeing 767-300 struck multiple vehicles and caught fire.
Known: At least five people died and five were injured.
Known: The aircraft was operated by 21 Air for Amazon.
Known: The NTSB and FAA are investigating.
Not yet known: Why the aircraft was unable to stop within the available runway.
Not yet known: Whether speed, touchdown position, wind, runway conditions, aircraft systems, crew actions or a combination of factors contributed.
The final explanation will depend on the evidence recovered by investigators rather than early speculation.
