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Victims in Miami cargo jet crash were in van used by plane cleaners
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- Five people were killed when an Amazon cargo jet overran the runway at Miami International Airport and struck a van used to shuttle plane cleaning crews; the van occupants were all fatalities.
- The jet also crashed through a fence and hit an SUV on a city street, injuring five others; two remain in critical condition, and one is stable.
- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating, focusing on the absence of a runway safety system designed to slow or stop overrunning jets, which Miami Airport lacks despite having a 1,000-foot safety buffer.
- The plane, a converted Boeing 767 cargo jet operated by 21 Air, landed amid strong tailwinds and did not abort landing despite being carried far down the runway; air traffic control did not adjust the approach for wind direction.
- Two runways remain closed as investigators collect evidence, causing significant flight cancellations and delays; NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy emphasized the need to implement safety recommendations to prevent future tragedies.
