NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
At least five people were killed, and five others were injured at Miami International Airport on Sunday after an Amazon cargo plane overran the runway, struck multiple vehicles and caught fire while landing.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (MDSO) and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) confirmed that there were at least 10 victims involved in the crash, which happened when Prime Air flight 7598 overran Miami International Airport’s diagonal runway at about 2 p.m. local time.
An Amazon spokesperson expressed condolences to those impacted.
“We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today’s incident at Miami International Airport. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss,” the company said.
UNITED FLIGHT FROM CHICAGO MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING AFTER PASSENGER’S ‘MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS’ TO BREACH COCKPIT
Fire Chief Raied Jadallah said three people were taken to a trauma center in critical condition and two others were transported to a local hospital.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said the rescue team “was there within seconds of the crash.”
Fire officials are still working to contain a fuel leak caused by the crash, according to Jadallah.
“We do still have an active fuel leak that’s occurring off of the aircraft that is being mitigated,” Jadallah said.
Fire officials told Fox News Digital that the fire erupted from the aircraft’s engine, but HazMat units were able to safely shut down the engine while addressing the plane’s fuel leak.
“Firefighters encountered a complex engine compartment fire and used foam from specialized airport firefighting units to extinguish the flames,” officials said.
MDFR said several victims were trapped in the vehicles struck by the airplane, with one requiring “extrication” by specialized technical rescue personnel.
Crews also conducted search-and-rescue operations for the pilots and co-pilots, who officials said were trapped inside the cockpit. They also worked to locate and assess patients throughout the scene.
More than 60 fire units and about 200 personnel responded to the scene after the airplane crashed and came to a stop beyond the airport operations boundary, according to fire officials.
“Units arrived to find an airplane that had caught on fire as a result of this crash, with heavy flames and smoke showing. Firefighters are working on extinguishing the fire and assessing patients,” the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said in a post on X.
MDFR is now operating in a supportive role, with units remaining on scene to assist partner agencies.
An Amazon spokesperson said the plane experienced an “incident” while attempting to land, but did not elaborate on the circumstances.
“We can confirm that an Amazon Air plane operated by 21 Air experienced an incident while attempting to land at Miami International Airport today,” Amazon said.
“This is a fast-moving situation and we’re still gathering details. 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. We’re doing everything we can to support those affected.”
Boeing told Fox News that the aircraft was first delivered as a passenger plane in 1994 before later being converted to a freighter.
“Boeing extends our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in the accident in Miami. Our hearts go out to those injured and affected by this tragedy. Boeing is supporting the investigation led by the U.S National Transportation Safety Board,” the aerospace manufacturer said.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said 21 Air Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-300, departed from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
County CAD records indicate the emergency call was received at about 1:55 p.m.
Cava said the city is closely monitoring the situation.
“Right now, our focus is on everyone involved and making sure our first responders have what they need. We will provide updates as we learn more,” she said in a post on X.
Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said first responders were assessing the scene.
“We’ve issued a full ground stop at Miami International while first responders assess the scene after an Amazon cargo plane overran the runway. If you’re traveling through the area, please expect significant delays and potential cancellations,” he said in a post on X.
Airport officials later said one runway reopened, but they are “still experiencing impacts from this incident.”
Passengers with flights scheduled for Sunday were advised to check directly with their airline for flight status updates before heading to the airport.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The FAA will investigate the incident.
Read the full article here
