Tragedy at Miami Airport: Amazon Cargo Plane Collides with Cleaning‑Crew Van and Nearby SUV

Sunday evening turned nightmarish at Miami International Airport when a Boeing 767‑300, painted in Amazon’s familiar livery, overshot the runway during its landing roll. The aircraft, operated by the charter carrier 21 Air, burst through a perimeter fence, slammed into a white Ford van belonging to Professional Ocean Service Corp., and then plowed into a Toyota SUV that was traveling on Northwest 67th Avenue.

The van was transporting a small team that cleans aircraft between flights. Seven people were inside; five of them later died, and the remaining two sustained injuries. The SUV driver and three passengers were also hurt, bringing the total casualty count to five dead and five injured.

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy described the scene as "devastating." She noted that the van was "torn apart" and that tire marks trailed from the runway onto the grass, mingling with wreckage from the plane, the van and the SUV. Airbags from the car, sections of the Boeing’s fuselage, and scattered debris littered the area.

Rescue crews worked quickly to free the two pilots who were initially trapped inside the aircraft. A cell‑phone video captured a crew member leaping from the plane moments after impact, while photographs later showed another crew member being taken away on a gurney.

According to the NTSB, the flight had originated in San Juan, Puerto Rico, after a series of prior legs that day—Cincinnati to Miami, then Miami to San Juan, and finally the return to Miami. Upon touchdown, the plane overshot the runway, struck navigational equipment, then the van, the SUV, and finally came to rest in a grassy area near a fence that houses Tesla robotaxis.

Amazon’s spokesperson, Kelly Nantel, expressed deep sorrow: "We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives… Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss." 21 Air CEO Keith Winters said his company is fully cooperating with federal investigators.

Investigators have recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder and will examine air‑traffic control communications, aircraft performance, and runway conditions. The NTSB expects to remain on site for at least a week, and they have asked the public to share any photos or videos that might help the probe.

Cleanup will be extensive; fuel has seeped across the runway and will need remediation before normal operations can resume.