Amazon Cargo Plane Crash: NTSB Recovers Black Boxes as Investigation Confirms Jet Struck Cleaning Crew Van

 

Amazon Cargo Plane Crash: NTSB Recovers Black Boxes as Investigation Confirms Jet Struck Cleaning Crew Van

**The NTSB recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from the Boeing 767 that overran a runway at Miami International Airport. At least five people on the ground were killed when the jet crashed through a perimeter fence and struck a cleaning crew van and a passing SUV before erupting in flames.**

## The Crash: A Labor Day Weekend Tragedy

An Amazon Prime Air cargo flight ended in tragedy on the afternoon of September 6, 2026, when the Boeing 767-300 overran the runway at Miami International Airport. The aircraft, operated by contract cargo carrier 21 Air, was arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and crashed shortly before 2 p.m. local time .

The jet overshot the runway by approximately 1,300 feet, crashing through the airport perimeter fence and striking vehicles on the ground . The impact killed five people and injured five others, three critically .

**"The scene is utter devastation,"** NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy told reporters on Monday. **"You can see on the paved surface tire marks that continue through the grass. There's debris everywhere. The Econoline van is torn apart."** 

All five people who died were in vehicles on the ground . The two pilots survived and were rescued from the cockpit, though their conditions remain unclear .

## The Investigation: Black Boxes Recovered, Key Details Emerge

### What the NTSB Has Found

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have recovered both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder — commonly called the "black boxes" — from the wreckage . The devices are being transported to NTSB headquarters in Washington for evaluation and analysis .

A 32-person NTSB team is on site investigating all potential factors: mechanical failure, environmental variables, flight crew performance, and air traffic control communications .

**Key findings to date include:**

- The Boeing 767-33A was on its **third flight of the day** when it crashed — it had previously flown from Cincinnati to Miami, then Miami to San Juan, before returning to Miami 

- The jet was 32 years old and operated by Miami-based 21 Air LLC on behalf of Amazon 

- The aircraft struck two vehicles: a van operated by **Professional Ocean Service Corp** (an airline cleaning contractor) and a Toyota SUV 

- The van was carrying seven people; the SUV was traveling on Northwest 67th Avenue beyond the airport perimeter 

### What Investigators Are Examining

The NTSB is investigating why the jet — which appeared to land "hard and fast" midway down the runway — was not able to stop safely . Key questions include:

- Where exactly the jet touched down and whether it was beyond the normal touchdown zone 

- Why the pilots didn't execute a go-around 

- The jet's speed and braking system performance 

- Weather conditions, including thunderstorms and winds at the time of the crash 

- Mechanical condition of the aircraft 

### The EMAS Question

Miami International Airport is **not equipped with an Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS)** — a lightweight, crushable material designed to slow aircraft that overrun runways . The FAA does not require EMAS for runways longer than 1,000 feet, as is the case at Miami .

The NTSB has confirmed it will examine the significance of this missing safety feature .

## The Human Toll: Victims and Recovery

All five people killed were in the vehicles struck by the plane. The van that was hit first belonged to Professional Ocean Service Corp, a contractor providing cleaning services for airlines .

Five others were injured, with three taken to trauma centers in critical condition . Firefighters had to extricate several victims who were trapped in the vehicles struck by the aircraft .

**"Know that we are deeply, deeply committed to our duty, our responsibilities as an investigative agency to determine how this accident occurred, why it happened, with one goal in mind: safety,"** Homendy said .

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava confirmed the death toll, saying rescue crews arrived "within seconds" of the crash .

**"Right now, our absolute priority is the safety, well-being, and care of everyone involved,"** Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said. **"We're doing everything we can to support those affected."** 

## The Aftermath: Airport Operations and Response

The crash forced a temporary ground stop at Miami International Airport, with all runways and taxiways closed . More than 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the scene .

Firefighters worked to contain a fuel leak from the aircraft while extinguishing the fire that erupted on impact . Rescue crews used a ladder to access the plane's interior through a cockpit window .

As of Monday evening, two of the airport's four runways remained closed . The airport warned that cancellations and delays would continue as aircraft and flight crews had not arrived due to the disruption .

The NTSB's on-site investigation is expected to continue for at least a week . A probable cause for the crash will not be determined until the investigation concludes, which could take months .

## What This Means for Amazon and the Aviation Industry

The crash represents a significant safety incident for Amazon's Prime Air cargo operations, which have expanded rapidly in recent years. The company has emphasized that the flight was operated by a contracted carrier, 21 Air, rather than directly by Amazon .

For the aviation industry, the incident raises renewed questions about runway safety and the need for EMAS systems at major airports. The NTSB investigation will likely scrutinize whether the absence of EMAS at Miami contributed to the severity of the outcome.

The NTSB has asked the public to send any photos or videos of the crash to aid the investigation . Another press briefing is scheduled for Tuesday .

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## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

### 1. What caused the Amazon cargo plane crash?

The cause remains under investigation. The NTSB is examining mechanical failure, weather conditions, flight crew performance, and why the jet overshot the runway. A probable cause will not be determined until the investigation concludes .

### 2. How many people died in the crash?

At least **five people** were killed. All were in vehicles on the ground — a cleaning crew van and a passing SUV .

### 3. Were the pilots killed?

**No.** The pilot and co-pilot survived and were rescued from the cockpit, though their conditions remain unclear .

### 4. What were the "black boxes" recovered by the NTSB?

The NTSB recovered the **flight data recorder** and the **cockpit voice recorder**, which will be analyzed to determine the aircraft's speed, braking, and crew communications before the crash .

### 5. What is an EMAS system and why does it matter?

EMAS stands for **Engineered Material Arresting System** — a crushable material designed to stop aircraft that overrun runways. Miami International Airport does not have EMAS, and the NTSB is examining whether this contributed to the crash .

### 6. Was the plane operated by Amazon?

The plane was operated by **21 Air**, a contract cargo carrier, on behalf of Amazon's Prime Air service .

### 7. What flight was involved in the crash?

The aircraft was operating as **Prime Air Flight 7598**, which had departed from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico .

### 8. Is Miami International Airport still closed?

As of Monday evening, **two of the four runways** remained closed. The airport warned of continued cancellations and delays as crews continue their investigation and recovery efforts .

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## Disclaimer

*This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional, legal, or financial advice. The information provided is based on publicly available NTSB statements, news reports, and official announcements as of September 8, 2026. The investigation is ongoing, and details may evolve as new information becomes available. For the most current information, please refer to official NTSB communications.*