Amazon cargo plane overruns Miami runway, killing at least five

A Boeing 767 cargo plane operated by 21 Air overran a runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday afternoon, crashing into a service road and igniting a fire. The accident killed five people, three of whom were critically injured, and left two others hospitalized with less severe injuries, officials said.

Rescue crews reported that the pilot and co-pilot were trapped in the cockpit while occupants of nearby vehicles were also caught in the blaze. Firefighters used specialized foam to extinguish the flames and later worked to contain a fuel leak.

The incident halted departures at the busy hub for much of the afternoon, leading to more than 160 flight cancellations and nearly 325 delays. Some flights were diverted to Orlando International Airport, more than 200 miles north.

The National Transportation Safety Board dispatched a team, led by Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy, to investigate the cause, which remains unknown. Weather reports indicated thunderstorms and wind gusts up to 30 mph at the time.

Amazon issued a statement saying it would cooperate with the investigation. Aviation experts noted that the aircraft appeared to float above the runway before touchdown, raising questions about whether it landed within the required touchdown zone and why an abort was not attempted.

The Miami airport does not have an engineered arresting system, a safety feature installed at many U.S. airports to stop overrunning aircraft.