On September 6, 2026, a cargo aircraft overran the end of the runway at Miami International Airport. Flight 7598 operated by 21 Air was affected. The Boeing 767-300 arrived from San Juan, Puerto Rico and carried freight for the Amazon Air network.
The cargo aircraft overran runway 30 during landing. The aircraft subsequently struck navigation equipment and a van on airport grounds. Seven employees of an aircraft cleaning company were inside this vehicle. The Boeing then breached a fence and collided with another vehicle outside the airport.
According to authorities, all five fatalities were in the van. Five additional people were injured. The pilot and copilot have since been discharged from the hospital.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the accident. The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered and sent for analysis. Investigators are examining, among other factors, the landing procedure, aircraft systems, weather data, air traffic control operations, and airport safety equipment.
This does not mean any of these factors has been established as the cause. That is precisely what the investigation must determine. The contractual relationship between Amazon and 21 Air will also be reviewed. Amazon operates its air freight network through several external airlines. In this case, 21 Air was the aircraft operator and responsible for flight operations.
The accident had immediate consequences for Miami operations. Initially, all runways were closed. By September 8, according to AP, two of the four runways remained closed. On the day of the accident alone, approximately 160 flights were cancelled and more than 300 were delayed. Additional flights were cancelled the following day as well.
For air cargo, this incident underscores once more: a single incident at a major cargo airport can very quickly disrupt slots, connections, and handling schedules.