Two pilots and three other individuals were taken to hospitals following the accident of an Amazon Air cargo plane that occurred this Sunday near the Miami International Airport (MIA), as reported by NBC6 quoting a source with direct knowledge of the incident.
According to NBC6 South Florida, the two pilots were taken to Jackson South Medical Center, while the other three individuals were transferred to Jackson Memorial Hospital.
The accident occurred around 2:00 p.m., when Flight 7598 of 21 Air, a Boeing 767-300 cargo plane operating for Amazon Air, overshot the runway after landing in Miami.
The aircraft had previously taken off from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as confirmed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The first images of the accident showed the plane off the runway and a huge column of black smoke rising from the area, while dozens of emergency units were mobilizing to the site.
Miami International Airport confirmed that the aircraft was immobilized at the northwest end of the terminal and announced the closure of all runways and taxiways, as well as the implementation of a total ground stop.
The terminal urged those with flights scheduled for this Sunday to check directly with their airlines before heading to the airport due to disruptions caused by the emergency.
The United States Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, announced the temporary suspension of flights to Miami and warned travelers about "significant delays and possible cancellations" as emergency services assessed the situation.
The FAA confirmed that it will investigate the circumstances that led the Boeing to exceed the runway. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will also join this investigation, as reported by NBC6, which is sending a team to Miami to analyze the incident.
Amazon also spoke out after the accident and confirmed that the plane was operated by 21 Air.
"This is a rapidly evolving situation and we are still gathering details. We are working closely with local authorities and officials to understand exactly what happened," said Kelly Nantel, spokesperson for Amazon.
Nantel also assured that the company has "absolute priority" for the safety and well-being of all individuals involved and stated, "We are doing everything we can to support those affected."
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