Audio By Carbonatix
An Amazon cargo plane barreled off a runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday, killing at least five people as it struck vehicles and burst into flames, authorities said.
The aircraft overran the runway around 2 p.m. after arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Five people were killed, three critically injured and two others hospitalised with less severe injuries, Miami-Dade County officials told a news conference.
Miami-Dade Rescue Fire Chief Ray Jadallah said some people were trapped inside vehicles. The pilot and copilot were also trapped in the plane. Fire crews were still dealing with a fuel leak on the plane several hours after the crash, Jadallah said.
More than 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the crash, arriving to find the aircraft on fire as crews worked to extinguish the flames and assess patients.
The Prime Air plane came to rest beside a roadway near two semi-trucks, according to images from the scene. The aircraft appeared to be resting on its belly and was largely intact despite the fire.
The flight had been 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 to a cargo plane in 2015, according to flight-tracking site Flightradar24.
About 250 flights were delayed at the airport late Sunday afternoon, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks flight disruptions.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it is sending a team to Miami led by Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy to investigate.
“We’re working closely with local authorities and officials to understand exactly what happened,” Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said in a social media post. “Right now, our absolute priority is the safety, well-being, and care of everyone involved.”
Latest Stories
-
Avoid comparing governments, Catholic Bishops tell Chief Justice
5 minutes -
140 migrants in single dinghy rescued in English Channel
26 minutes -
FIFA president Infantino will stand for re-election
35 minutes -
Catholic Bishops reject calls for Chief Justice’s resignation over political remarks
44 minutes -
Germany’s far-right AfD set for big win in eastern state, just short of majority
1 hour -
Catholic Bishops urge Chief Justice to avoid remarks that could raise doubts about impartiality
1 hour -
Mrs Doris Emma Doryumu (Nee Dove)
1 hour -
Illegal mining concessions easier to obtain than lawful ones in Ghana – Prof Frimpong-Boateng
2 hours -
At least 5 dead after Amazon cargo plane barreled off runway at Miami airport
2 hours -
Frimpong-Boateng proposes Environmental Restoration Fund funded by mineral royalties
2 hours -
Corrupt individuals are worse than pathogens; their actions cause premature deaths – Prof Frimpong-Boateng
2 hours -
No illegal mining operation will find refuge on Akyem Essase lands — Chief declares
2 hours -
Flight price rises due to ‘foolish leaders’ starting wars, Virgin’s Branson says
2 hours -
Consult traditional authorities before granting mining concessions on stool lands — Baffour Sikabede to gov’t
2 hours -
Why are European countries moving their gold out of North America?
2 hours