An Amazon Prime Air 767 overran Miami's runway on Sept 6, killing five and shutting every runway for hours. Casualties, MIA disruption and passenger advice.
Cover image: a Boeing 767 freighter of the same type as the crashed jet on final approach — photo by <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:4300streetcar" title="User:4300streetcar">4300streetcar</a>, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
An Amazon Prime Air cargo jet overran the runway while landing at Miami International Airport at about 2pm ET on Sunday, September 6, crossed a nearby road, struck vehicles and caught fire. Five people were killed and five injured, three of them critically. Every runway at one of America's busiest airports was shut for hours, and disruption stretched into the night with travellers told rebooking could take until Tuesday.
The aircraft was Prime Air Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-300 freighter operated by contractor 21 Air on a flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The pilots were trapped inside the cockpit, and occupants were trapped inside vehicles on the ground as more than 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units fought the blaze and a subsequent fuel leak.
What happened in the Miami runway overrun?
The Federal Aviation Administration says the jet overran the runway while landing around 2pm. After leaving the paved surface it crossed a road beside the airport, ploughed into ground traffic and burned. Video from the scene showed black smoke rising over the airfield, though the fuselage was described as largely intact despite the fire.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue confirmed multiple vehicles were hit. The dead and injured include people on the ground as well as possible crew; officials said at a news conference that three of the five injured are in critical condition. Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said the company is working closely with local authorities and officials to understand exactly what happened.
How old was the crashed 767 and who operated it?
Amazon confirmed the aircraft was flown by 21 Air, a North Carolina-based cargo airline that operates freighters for Amazon's Prime Air network. Flight-tracking data cited in early reporting describes a 32-year-old airframe that flew as a passenger jet for more than two decades before its conversion to freight use in 2015.
No cause has been determined. The FAA says it is investigating, and the National Transportation Safety Board says it is aware and will provide updates. Investigators were still working on the tarmac late Sunday night.
Is Miami airport open after the crash?
The crash produced a total ground stop: every runway and taxiway at MIA was shut for multiple hours. By late Sunday night two of the airport's four runways had reopened, but widespread delays and continued cancellations ran into the night.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the department had ordered a halt to operations in Miami and warned travellers to expect significant delays. Inside the terminals, lengthy rebooking lines formed and staff distributed water. Several passengers told local reporters they could not secure a new departure until at least Tuesday, with one switching to an Orlando flight and a Toronto-bound traveller describing two successive cancellations.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Flight | Prime Air 7598, San Juan to Miami, operated by 21 Air |
| Aircraft | Boeing 767-300 freighter, 32 years old, converted 2015 |
| Time | About 2pm ET, Sunday September 6, 2026 |
| Casualties | 5 dead, 5 injured (3 critical) |
| Airport impact | Total ground stop; 2 of 4 runways reopened late Sunday |
| Investigation | FAA and NTSB; no cause determined |
What should passengers flying via Miami do?
Check your flight status before leaving for the airport and expect rolling delays through at least Tuesday as airlines work through the backlog. If your flight is cancelled, ask the airline about rebooking, meals and hotel cover at the counter, and keep every receipt. Our guide to flight-delay compensation and passenger rights sets out what carriers owe you, and it is worth reading our travel insurance explainer before you buy cover for your next trip.
Frequently asked questions
How many people died in the Miami cargo plane crash?
At least five people were killed and five injured, three critically, when the Prime Air 767 overran the runway on September 6. Officials have not yet released the identities of the dead.
Was the crashed plane an Amazon aircraft?
It flew for Amazon's Prime Air network but was operated by contractor 21 Air. The 32-year-old Boeing 767-300 freighter was on a scheduled cargo run from San Juan to Miami.
Are flights at Miami airport cancelled?
The crash shut all MIA runways for hours. Two of four runways reopened late Sunday, but delays and cancellations continued into the night, with some passengers unable to rebook until Tuesday. Check with your airline.
What caused the Miami runway overrun?
No cause has been determined. The FAA is investigating and the NTSB is involved. Officials say updates will follow as investigators examine the wreckage, flight data and runway conditions.
