Officials are investigating what caused an Amazon cargo plane to overshoot the runway and crash after landing at Miami International Airport on Sunday, killing five people and seriously injuring five others.
The Boeing 767-300, operated by North Carolina-based charter company 21 Air, crashed shortly before 14:00 local time (18:00 GMT) after leaving the runway and crossing a nearby road, where it struck several vehicles.
The identities of those killed and injured have not yet been released. Authorities have also not determined whether the fatalities occurred aboard the aircraft, on the ground, or in both locations.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava confirmed the deaths during a news conference on Sunday evening.
“At least five people have lost their lives, and five others are injured,” she said, adding that emergency crews reached the crash site within “seconds” of the incident.
Miami Fire Chief Raied Jadallah said three of the five injured people were in critical condition.
21 Air said it was “devastated by the accident involving one of our aircraft in Miami” and confirmed that it was cooperating with investigators.
Amazon also said it was assisting authorities with the investigation.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation as officials work to establish what happened during the aircraft’s landing and why it failed to remain within the airport’s runway area.
