Five individuals lost their lives in a tragic incident at Miami International Airport when an Amazon cargo plane veered off a runway. The victims were passengers in a van transporting a cleaning crew, which was struck by an SUV outside the airport premises, as confirmed by Jennifer Homendy, the chairperson of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Homendy described the crash site as a scene of “utter devastation,” noting the extensive damage caused by the Boeing 767’s path, including tire marks on the grass, wreckage of the van, damaged fencing, and the crushed SUV. The van, owned by Professional Ocean Service Corp., was severely damaged with seven people on board.
The NTSB has successfully retrieved both the voice and data recorders from the aircraft for investigation. Further details, including the plane’s speed from the flight data recorder, will be disclosed by the NTSB on Tuesday. Investigators are focusing on determining whether the plane landed too late to stop safely.
The absence of engineered material arresting systems (EMAS) at Miami Airport, which could have prevented the overrun, has raised questions. The FAA has credited EMAS with saving lives in similar incidents, but Miami Airport complies with safety regulations due to its safety buffer at the end of runways. The NTSB will assess the necessity of EMAS at all airports following this tragedy.
The cargo plane, operated by 21 Air, had a history of passenger service before being converted to a cargo carrier. The NTSB will scrutinize its maintenance records, especially considering its previous foreign ownership. The crash disrupted airport operations, and Amazon expressed condolences, pledging full cooperation with the investigation.
Tragically, this incident recalls the UPS plane crash last year in Louisville, emphasizing the importance of aviation safety measures.
