An Amazon Air Boeing 767-300 cargo plane operating as Prime Air Flight 7598 overran a runway at Miami International Airport just before 2 p.m. local time on Sunday, September 6, 2026. The aircraft, arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, crashed into multiple vehicles after the runway excursion and caught fire, resulting in at least five fatalities and five hospitalizations, including three people in critical condition, according to Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz and Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue officials.
FAA Ground Stop and Airport Closures Affect Hundreds of Flights
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop at Miami International Airport for all departing flights until at least 5:30 p.m. Eastern
Time, following the crash. The incident caused the closure of all runways and taxiways at the airport. FlightAware reported that nearly 200 flights were canceled and over 250 delayed as a result, with inbound flights experiencing delays averaging approximately 6.5 hours.
Flight Operator, Aircraft Background and Official Response
The Boeing 767 cargo aircraft involved in the crash was originally built for passenger service and converted to cargo use in 2015. The flight was operated by 21 Air, a cargo carrier based in North Carolina. Miami-Dade County Fire Chief Raied Jadallah confirmed the plane was leaking fuel upon emergency responders’ arrival and ongoing containment efforts were underway. The
FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched investigations into the cause of the crash, which remains undetermined.
Official Statements Emphasize Safety and Investigation Efforts
Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said, “We will continue to update you as soon as information is confirmed. Our entire community is joined in prayers and grieving for those who are affected.” Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated, “We’re working closely with local authorities and officials to understand exactly what happened. Right now, our absolute priority is the safety, well-being, and care of everyone involved.”
Significance Within Aviation History and Miami Airport Operations
Miami International Airport, which served 26 million passengers in 2025, experienced the highest number of flight cancellations
and delays in the United States on the day of the crash, according to FlightAware. The incident occurred during the Labor Day travel rush, a peak period for the airport, which anticipated serving approximately 900,000 passengers over the Labor Day weekend in 2025. This crash follows other recent fatal U.S. cargo aviation accidents, including a November 2025 UPS cargo jet crash in Kentucky that killed 14 and a January 2025 collision involving an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan Washington National Airport that resulted in 67 deaths.
