At least five people died and another five were injured after a Boeing 767-300 freighter operating for Amazon Air overshot a runway at Miami International Airport (MIA) this Sunday, ending up colliding with several vehicles, authorities confirmed.
The accident occurred at 1:58 p.m., when flight 7598 from 21 Air overshot runway 30 after landing from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, reported NBC Miami.
Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz confirmed during a press conference that five people lost their lives.
Five others were taken to hospitals, including the two pilots of the plane, according to Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
The authorities had not publicly revealed the identities of the deceased victims or the injured.
The plane collided with several vehicles
After overrunning the runway, the Boeing ended up at the northwest corner of the airport and collided with several vehicles near the 2100 block of Northwest 42nd Avenue.
Images released after the accident showed the enormous aircraft outside the landing area, surrounded by vehicles and engulfed in flames, while a thick column of black smoke could be seen from a great distance.
Emergency teams also detected an active fuel leak, which they later managed to control.
The Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue Department deployed over 60 units to respond to the emergency.
According to Levine Cava, the two pilots were transported to Jackson South Medical Center, while three other individuals were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Commissioner Natalie Milian Orbis urged residents and drivers to avoid the area while emergency teams continued their work.
Airport paralyzed after the accident
The incident forced a temporary suspension of operations at Miami International Airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop while the emergency was addressed. Subsequently, two of the four runways at the airport were able to reopen, according to Greg Chin, director of communications for the Miami-Dade Aviation Department.
The U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, warned travelers that the accident could cause delays and cancellations.
Amazon confirmed that the aircraft was engaged in an operation for its cargo network.
"We can confirm that an Amazon Air plane, operated by 21 Air, suffered an incident while attempting to land at Miami International Airport," stated the company's spokesperson, Kelly Nantel.
"This is a rapidly evolving situation and we are still gathering information. At this moment, our top priority is the safety, well-being, and care of everyone involved," he added.
Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced the dispatch of teams to Miami to investigate the accident.
At the moment, it has not been determined what caused the Boeing 767-300 to overshoot the runway after landing.
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