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A deadly plane crash in Miami on Sunday left a trail of “total devastation,” the National Transportation Safety Board said as it opened an investigation into the incident.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said at a news conference Monday that the plane arrived from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The Amazon-contracted Boeing 767-300 overran runway 30 while landing, hitting navigation aids and equipment, then crashing into a white 2012 Ford Econoline belonging to Ocean Service Corporation, a contract cleaning company for the airline. Seven people were in the vehicle.
The plane then crashed into a Toyota Corolla Cross LE before continuing onto a grassy field. It then crashed into another fence that closed off the area where Tesla’s robotaxis were placed.
“I would describe it in one word devastating… total devastation,” Homendy said. “I mean, you could see the tire marks on the paved surface that continued through the grass. There was debris everywhere. The Econoline van was torn apart.”
The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered, Homendy added.
The jet, contracted to Amazon and operated by 21 Air as Amazon Air 7598, overshot the runway after landing at around 1:53 p.m. on Sunday.
Miami-Dade County officials said in a news conference Sunday that five people were killed, three people were seriously injured and two others were hospitalized with less serious injuries.
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“I want to pause for a moment before continuing and talk about the investigation and express our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in this terrible tragedy, and to the families of those who suffered serious or minor injuries. We can only imagine everything you are going through,” Homendy said.
“Recovery of the victims is of utmost importance. Investigation and access to the aircraft, as well as evidence can wait while… recovery operations continue.”
Although he would not comment on the health status of the people, he confirmed that the crash victims were “limited” to the two vehicles struck by the plane.
Fire Chief Ray Jadallah said several people were trapped inside vehicles. The pilot and co-pilot were also trapped inside the plane. Crews were still dealing with a fuel leak hours after the crash, Jadallah added.
The crash caused Miami International Airport, which is a major hub, to come to a complete shutdown, although one runway had reopened around 4:50 p.m.
Two runways reopened on Monday, Homendy confirmed, but two runways remain closed and more work is needed before they reopen.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said earlier in the day that more than 60 units were at the scene, and said the incident involved several vehicles near the airport.
According to Homendy, the team consisting of 32 investigators will be divided into certain areas. They will look at various aspects including operations and human performance, flight history, 21 Air LLC policies and procedures, flight crew experience and training, controller-pilot transmissions, and aircraft performance.
They also plan to look at “deficiencies” in engineered arrest systems found at the ends of some runways that can safely stop planes.
He said the NTSB would not determine a probable cause while at the scene.
“We are here to document the incident and collect perishable evidence,” Homendy said.
When asked whether investigators had spoken to the flight crew or people on the ground, Homendy said he had not contacted the team but that interviews had not yet taken place.
In a statement to Global News on Sunday, Amazon said an Amazon Air plane operated by 21 Air had an incident while trying to land at Miami airport.
The company said Monday it was deeply saddened by those killed and injured in the incident.
Homendy said the team had begun gathering investigative information, and he had walked from the runway, past the vehicles, and to where the plane came to rest.
The flight was operated by 21 Air, a cargo carrier based in North Carolina. The 32-year-old Boeing 767 was originally built to carry passengers and flew for several airlines for more than two decades before being converted into a cargo plane in 2015, according to flight tracking site Flightradar24.
–With files from The Associated Press
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
