Amazon has announced it is pausing operations with 21 Air after a crash that killed five people on the ground. The 21 Air cargo plane overran a runway at Miami International Airport and struck two vehicles after landing on September 6. Authorities identified the victims as Rolando Aleman, Yoel Rodriguez Naranjo, Julio C. Pineda, Carlos Acosta Fajardo, and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo. Preliminary flight recorder data showed no indication that the speed brakes or thrust reversers were deployed.
The Boeing 767-33A was operating as 21 Air Flight 7598 for Amazon Air. It was arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The plane traveled about 1,300 feet beyond the end of the runway before striking a van carrying workers from an aircraft cleaning company. All five people who died were in the van, according to The Associated Press. Five other people were injured.
Flight recorder information released by the National Transportation Safety Board showed that the aircraft touched down at a groundspeed of 158 knots. One pilot had warned that the plane was too fast during the approach. The brakes were initially applied and then released as the throttles were increased to a level consistent with an attempted go-around. The brakes were applied again seconds later. Investigators have not determined the cause of the crash.
Amazon already uses other cargo partners including Sun Country Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and ABX Air. Amazon’s cargo network also lists Air Transport International, Cargojet, ASL, and Quickjet as carrier partners.
The company also expressed condolences to the families of those who died in the incident. Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said the company decided to pause operations with 21 Air after reviewing the circumstances surrounding the crash. Amazon said it would continue supporting the investigation and those affected.
21 Air had carried Amazon packages since 2024. The North Carolina-based carrier also flies freight for DHL. The aircraft involved was a 32-year-old Boeing 767 that had originally been used as a passenger plane before being converted to cargo service in 2015