Widow files wrongful-death suit over Miami Amazon cargo jet crash

A Miami widow has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Amazon, the charter operator 21 Air and aircraft owner Atlas Air, claiming negligence contributed to the fatal crash of a Boeing 767 cargo jet on Sunday. The suit alleges the aircraft landed far beyond the designated touchdown zone, exceeded recommended landing speed by about 40 knots, and failed to execute a proper nose-flare or a go-around, leading the plane to overrun the runway by roughly 1,300 feet and strike two vehicles before catching fire.

The complaint, filed by Yaraisi Santiso Morejon, says the pilots – Captain Joseph Carroll, 55, and co-pilot Jaime Felipe Silva Molina, 37 – touched down 4,000 feet past the target zone under hazardous weather conditions, including an active thunderstorm. It also accuses 21 Air of insufficient pilot training, poor crew supervision, demanding flight schedules, and allowing pilots with limited English proficiency to operate. The suit further alleges that Atlas Air provided an aging 32-year-old aircraft that lacked fully functional braking systems, noting that speed brakes and thrust reversers did not deploy during landing.

The National Transportation Safety Board has not yet released an official cause for the crash and continues its investigation. Amazon responded that all jets operating on its behalf are flown by FAA-certified carriers under FAA-approved programs, emphasizing routine inspections, licensed personnel and recurrent training. The company expressed sympathy for the victims and said it is cooperating with investigators. 21 Air also issued condolences and pledged to support families and assist authorities.

"This disaster was not an unavoidable accident," the plaintiff’s representative said. "The FAA actively oversees each carrier’s programs and any changes are individually reviewed and approved by the FAA," Amazon said in a statement. "Our deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives," 21 Air said.