Amazon Cargo Plane Crash in Miami: Details and Investigation Updates

On September 6, 2026, a tragic incident occurred when an Amazon cargo plane overshot the runway at Miami International Airport, resulting in the deaths of five individuals. Witness Abraham Altamar described the crash as both “surreal” and “scary.” Altamar, who witnessed the aftermath while on FaceTime with his wife, reported interacting with a distressed pilot from the plane.

Altamar noted that the pilot, visibly shaken and with minor injuries to his forehead and hand, declined further emergency assistance, stating it had already been called. The pilot made a priority to contact his family, using Altamar’s phone to reassure them of his safety and communicate the incident’s severity.

The pilots involved were Joseph Carroll, 55, and Jaime Felipe Silva Molina, 37. Their identities were confirmed through various sources, including a Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office news release and Federal Aviation Administration records. Both were treated for injuries and released, according to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy.

The crash investigation conducted by the NTSB is ongoing. Preliminary reports indicate that Prime Air Flight 7598 struck navigation equipment and a van carrying seven members of a cleaning crew before breaking through airport fencing. It eventually collided with a Toyota SUV and stopped near Tesla robotaxis. All five fatalities occurred in these vehicles, tragically highlighting the crash’s reach beyond the immediate runway area.

Footage captured after the crash suggests a crew member exited the aircraft swiftly, although formal interviews with the pilot and co-pilot remain pending. The aircraft’s black boxes, crucial for voice and flight data analysis, are now at the NTSB’s headquarters.

Aircraft operator 21 Air and Amazon have pledged their full cooperation to the investigation. Homendy provided insight into the extensive crash damage during a Monday news conference, emphasizing scattered debris and tire marks that continued beyond paved surfaces onto grassy areas.

The investigation is set to explore whether more airports should install an Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS) at runways to prevent such mishaps. EMAS, already in place at over 70 airports, features crushable material to safely decelerate aircrafts that overrun runways. Miami International Airport confirmed this runway has the standard 1,000-foot safety area, which EMAS supplements only if absent.