NTSB Investigates Amazon Cargo Jet Crash in Miami That Killed Five

A Boeing 767 cargo jet operated by 21 Air for Amazon skidded off the runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday, killing five people in a van. The aircraft overshot the runway and collided with a van full of cleaning workers, an airport fence, concrete barriers, and an SUV before catching fire. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recovered the flight data and cockpit voice recorders to determine the cause of the accident.

Data from the black boxes reveals the aircraft touched down at a high speed of approximately 158 knots, or 180 mph, which is above the normal range of 130 to 145 knots. The plane landed nearly in the middle of the runway, about 4,000 feet past the threshold. The right main gear touched down first, but the left main gear remained in the air for several seconds. This delay prevented the automatic activation of the thrust reversers and speed brakes, which require both main gears to be on the ground.

Investigators noted a strange sequence of control inputs. Approximately 15 seconds before the recording ended, the pilots released the brakes and moved the throttles to full take off power. Four seconds later, they returned the throttles to idle and reapplied the brakes. The NTSB suggests the crew may have attempted to abort the landing and take off again before deciding against it.

The flight was operated by a 55 year old captain and a 37 year old first officer, both of whom survived the crash. The captain had over 7,000 flight hours and had been certified on the Boeing 767 since May. The NTSB plans to interview the crew to understand their actions in the cockpit. Investigators also examined the engines and recovered a black box from one of the impacted vehicles.