An Amazon Prime Air Boeing 767-300 cargo plane (tail number N1997A), operating as 21 Air Flight 7598 from San Juan, Puerto Rico, overran Runway 30, a diagonal runway at Miami International Airport, on Sunday, September 6, 2026, just before 2 p.m. local time. The aircraft crossed the airport perimeter road and Northwest 67th Avenue before stopping in a nearby field, striking multiple vehicles and erupting in flames.
The crash caused at least five fatalities and hospitalized five others, with three victims reported in critical condition. Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue deployed more than 60 units to the scene and reported some
victims were trapped inside the vehicles struck by the plane. Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz confirmed the casualties and declined to comment on the cause.
Following the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed a ground stop at Miami International Airport, closing all runways and taxiways until at least 5:30 p.m. ET on September 6, 2026. This closure led to nearly 200 flight cancellations and more than 250 flight delays—the largest number of cancellations and delays in the US on that day. Inbound flights experienced average delays of approximately 6.5 hours, according to FlightAware.
Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz stated,
“We will continue to update you as soon as information is confirmed,” and added, “Our entire community is joined in prayers and grieving for those who are affected.” An Amazon spokesperson said, “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.” The FAA confirmed its investigation into the incident.
Miami International Airport’s Traffic and Incident Context
Miami International Airport, one of the busiest in the United States and a major gateway for Latin America and the Caribbean, served about 26 million passengers in 2025. During the Labor Day weekend
in 2025, the airport expected around 900,000 passengers. The September 6, 2026 crash occurred amid the Labor Day travel rush, intensifying the disruption to a peak travel period.
Investigation Status and Unknown Factors
The cause of the runway overrun remains under investigation by the FAA and Amazon. Officials have not released information on contributing factors such as weather, mechanical failure, or pilot error. The aircraft’s collision with vehicles outside the runway perimeter significantly contributed to the fatalities and injuries.
