A tragic incident unfolded at Miami International Airport on Sunday, September 6, when an Amazon cargo plane overran a runway, collided with several vehicles, and burst into flames. Authorities have confirmed that at least five people died in the crash, while five others were hospitalized, with at least three of the injured reported to be in critical condition.
The aircraft, identified as Prime Air Flight 7598—a Boeing 767-300—was arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it veered off a diagonal runway shortly before 2 p.m. local time. Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz addressed the media during a Sunday afternoon briefing, stating, “We will continue to update you as soon as information is confirmed,” and adding, “Our entire community is joined in prayers and grieving for those who are affected.”
Emergency response teams, including more than 60 units from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, were deployed to the scene. Fire Chief Raied Jadallah noted that the wreckage was leaking fuel, necessitating containment efforts. Video footage captured at the site showed thick black smoke rising from the burning aircraft. Some victims were reportedly trapped inside the vehicles struck by the plane, and officials are currently assessing the status of those transported to medical facilities.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated an investigation into the crash and implemented a ground stop at the airport, which remained in effect until at least 5:30 p.m. ET. All runways and taxiways were shuttered following the accident. Amazon issued a statement expressing that their primary focus remains the safety and well-being of everyone involved, noting they are working closely with local authorities to determine the cause of the disaster. The flight operator, 21 Air, has also been contacted for comment.
The crash caused significant disruption during the busy Labor Day travel period. According to data from FlightAware, the airport experienced the highest volume of cancellations and delays nationwide, with nearly 200 flights canceled and over 250 delayed. Miami International Airport, which served approximately 26 million passengers in 2025, had anticipated handling 900,000 travelers over the holiday weekend.
This event follows a series of high-profile aviation accidents in the United States. In November 2025, a UPS cargo jet crash in Louisville, Kentucky, resulted in 14 fatalities after the plane’s left engine detached and caught fire. Earlier that year, in January 2025, an American Airlines regional jet collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan Washington National Airport, an incident that claimed the lives of all 67 people on board. The National Transportation Safety Board later attributed that collision to a multitude of systemic errors across multiple organizations. The report also notes that and Cordero-Stutz declined to answer additional questions from reporters, authorities were not immediately sure what caused the crash. The report also notes that the incident forced the closure of one of the nation’s busiest airports. The report also notes that reached out to the flight’s operator, 21 Air, for comment. The report also notes that the deadly crash happened during the Labor Day travel rush at the South Florida hub. The report also notes that this story has been updated to add new information.