Five dead and five injured after cargo plane overruns Miami runway
A Boeing 767-300 cargo aircraft operated by 21 Air overshot Miami International Airport's runway, striking two ground vehicles and killing five people, while five others were injured.
A Boeing 767-300 cargo plane operated by 21 Air overshot the runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday, colliding with a cleaning van and a Toyota SUV. The impact killed five people and injured five others who were inside the two vehicles. The aircraft, which was on its third flight of the day from San Juan, Puerto Rico, had two crew members on board.
National Transportation Safety Board chairwoman Jennifer Homendy described the scene as "utter devastation" and said it was too early to determine a cause. She noted that the plane struck navigational aids and a white Ford van before breaching the perimeter fence and hitting the Toyota Corolla, coming to rest about 1,300 feet beyond the runway.
"It's hard to see, and I'm sure very difficult for the first responders as well," Homendy said at a press conference, adding that recovering victims' bodies was the current priority.
Investigators have retrieved the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder and will examine flight systems, crew experience, weather conditions and runway safety features, including whether an engineered materials arresting system (EMAS) should be installed. A meteorologist will assess the thunderstorm and wind conditions reported near the airport at the time of the landing.
The NTSB has asked the public to share any photographs or video that could aid the investigation and indicated that safety recommendations will be issued after the probe concludes.
Two of the airport's four runways remained closed following the incident, and airlines warned passengers of further disruptions due to cancellations and crew availability.