A Miami airport plane crash killed five people after an Amazon cargo aircraft overran a runway and struck vehicles.
Five others also suffered injuries, including three people who remained in critical condition.
The crash happened at Miami International Airport in Florida on Sunday afternoon.
The Boeing 767 cargo aircraft operated as Amazon Prime Air Flight 7598. It arrived from San Juan, Puerto Rico, before the accident.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the aircraft overran the runway at about 2pm local time.
It then crossed a nearby road and struck several vehicles. The aircraft caught fire after leaving the runway.
Miami Dade County officials confirmed five deaths and five injuries.
However, authorities had not confirmed whether those killed were inside the aircraft or on the ground. Officials said several vehicles stood in the aircraft’s path.
More than 60 emergency response units reached the crash site. Fire crews faced heavy flames, thick smoke and a fuel leak.
They also rescued people trapped inside vehicles and worked to reach the aircraft crew.
Miami Airport Plane Crash Triggers Major Investigation
The Miami airport plane crash also caused major disruption at one of the United States’ busiest airports.
Authorities temporarily stopped flights while emergency teams dealt with the wreckage and fire. More than 160 flights faced cancellations, while nearly 325 others faced delays, according to reports.
Meanwhile, federal investigators began examining the circumstances behind the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, while the FAA is also examining the incident. Officials have not yet established a cause.
Weather conditions could form part of the investigation. Thunderstorms and strong wind gusts affected the area around the time of the landing.
However, authorities have not said that weather caused the crash. Investigators will need to establish the role of weather, aircraft performance and the landing sequence.
The aircraft was a Boeing 767 cargo jet operated by 21 Air for Amazon’s Prime Air network. Reports said the aircraft had earlier served as a passenger aircraft before conversion for cargo operations.
Amazon expressed condolences to those affected by the crash.
The company also said it would cooperate with authorities during the investigation.
The accident adds to recent scrutiny of aviation safety in the United States. However, investigators must complete their work before drawing conclusions about the cause.
Authorities are also working to identify the victims and determine exactly where each person was when the aircraft left the runway.Further findings from federal investigators could provide more details about the final moments of the flight.
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