NTSB says Amazon cargo jet attempted aborted landing before overrunning Miami runway

Flight data reviewed by the National Transportation Safety Board show that a Boeing 767 operated by Amazon’s cargo carrier attempted to abort an unstable landing at Miami International Airport before overrunning the runway and colliding with a cleaning-service van and a nearby SUV. The aircraft, which had arrived from Puerto Rico, travelled about 1,300 feet beyond the runway end, struck the van, breached a fence and then hit the SUV on a city street.

"We are reviewing flight data and cockpit recordings to determine what happened in the seconds before the aircraft slammed into the van," NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said at a news conference. She added that the thrust reversers were never deployed and that investigators will interview the pilots before releasing any cockpit voice-recorder excerpts.

The five victims were employees of Professional Ocean Service Corp., a company that provides aircraft-cleaning services. Two additional people remain in critical condition and three are injured but stable. The pilot and co-pilot, who were hospitalized after the crash, have been released.

Former FAA official Mike O'Donnell said the nose-first touchdown on the runway’s end suggests an unstable approach and that the crew may have hesitated before attempting a go-around. Aviation attorney Mary Schiavo suggested there could have been a disagreement between the pilots about how to proceed.

Investigators will also examine weather factors, including a strong tailwind that may have pushed the aircraft past the intended touchdown point, and whether air-traffic control provided appropriate guidance. Homendy noted that Miami International lacks a specialized overrun arrest system, though the airport does meet FAA buffer-zone requirements.

The incident forced the closure of one runway, leading to the cancellation of more than 225 flights and numerous delays, but the runway was reopened on Tuesday evening. The NTSB’s final report, expected in a year or more, will identify the cause and recommend safety measures.