NTSB Chair Paints Grim Picture of Miami Amazon Plane Crash

On Monday afternoon, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy stood before reporters at Miami International Airport and, without mincing words, called the scene of the Amazon‑operated 21 Air Flight 7598 a "devastating, utter devastation." Her voice carried the weight of a tragedy that had unfolded just hours before.

The twin‑engine turboprop, arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, touched down around 2 p.m. on runway 30, but something went wrong. Instead of slowing and stopping, the aircraft roared past the runway’s end, careening through a field and slamming into several vehicles parked near the 2100 block of Northwest 42nd Avenue.

First, it struck a white 2012 Ford Econoline van owned by Professional Ocean Service Corporation—a cleaning contractor that services airlines. Seven people were inside that van when the plane smashed into it, tearing the vehicle apart and scattering debris across the tarmac.

From there the aircraft barreled through a perimeter fence, clipped a Toyota Corolla Cross traveling on Northwest 67th Avenue, and finally skidded another 1,300 feet into the grass, where it hit a second fence that encloses a parking area for Tesla robo‑taxis. Tire marks ran like black ribbons through the grass, and parts of the plane and the vehicles were strewn everywhere.

“You could see tire marks continuing into the grass,” Homendy said, her eyes scanning the chaos. “The Econoline van was torn apart. There was debris everywhere—airport equipment, fencing, bits of the aircraft, airbags deployed on the SUV.” She noted how hard it must have been for first responders navigating the wreckage.

Emergency crews rescued five survivors from the crash site. Three of them were airlifted to a local trauma center in critical condition; the other two were taken to nearby hospitals with serious but less life‑threatening injuries. In the midst of the chaos, a person was found trapped beneath one of the vehicles and was painstakingly extricated by Miami‑Dade Fire Rescue.

Before continuing, Homendy paused to extend her condolences: “Our deepest sympathies go to the families who lost loved ones and to those who were injured. We can only imagine what you’re going through. Our hearts are with you.” She emphasized that the NTSB’s primary mission now is to uncover the cause of the accident and, ultimately, prevent another tragedy.

The investigation is still in its early stages. The plane was on its third flight that day—having flown from Cincinnati to Miami, Miami to San Juan, and back to Miami. A 32‑person NTSB team arrived on the scene late Sunday night and has been working around the clock, collecting evidence, photographing debris, and securing the site. Fuel slicks are still being removed, and the wreckage will be examined for mechanical failures.

Homendy stressed that recovery of the victims takes precedence over the investigative work. “Reuniting families with their loved ones is the most important thing right now,” she said. “Our investigative work can wait while we focus on getting the victims out and supporting the families.”

In the weeks to come, the board will issue a final report that includes probable cause findings and safety recommendations aimed at preventing a repeat of this “utter destruction.” Until then, the Miami community grapples with the shock of a crash that turned a routine landing into a scene of heartbreak.