At Miami International Airport in the United States, an Amazon cargo plane veered off the runway during landing and slammed into several vehicles, leaving at least 5 people dead and 5 injured.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the crash occurred at about 2 p.m. on the 6th (local time). A Boeing 767-300 cargo plane that departed from San Juan, Puerto Rico, landed at Miami International Airport, then exited the runway and collided with nearby vehicles.
The aircraft involved was Prime Air Flight 7598, operated by cargo carrier 21 Air on behalf of Amazon. The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse, citing videos of the scene posted on social media (SNS), reported that the cargo plane struck several vehicles, including two trucks.
The crash left at least 5 people dead and 5 injured. Three of the injured are in critical condition, and the other two were also taken to a hospital. It has not yet been confirmed whether the deceased were on the cargo plane or in the vehicles that were hit.
Flames shot up from the airframe immediately after the collision, and thick black smoke blanketed the area around the scene. The pilot and co-pilot were trapped inside the aircraft right after the crash, and two people in vehicles also reportedly required rescue.
The exact cause of the crash has not yet been determined. According to the National Weather Service, thunderstorms and gusts of up to 48 kph were observed around Miami at the time. However, it has not been confirmed whether the weather affected the crash.
Steve Arroyo, a former United Airlines pilot, told the Associated Press that the key to determining the cause is whether the plane touched down at the normal landing point on the runway. If it landed at the proper point, investigators should look at weather or mechanical issues; if it overshot the touchdown zone, they need to determine why the pilot did not abort the landing and go around.
All runways at Miami International Airport were closed immediately after the crash, leading to the cancellation of more than 160 flights and delays to 325 flights by the evening of the 6th. The airport later resumed operations on two of its four runways.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) dispatched an investigative team to the crash site. The FAA also launched a separate investigation.
Amazon said in a statement, "We extend our deepest condolences to the families who suffered loss of life in this crash," and noted it would cooperate with the authorities' investigation.