Witnesses described a distressing scene after an Amazon cargo plane overshot a runway at Miami International Airport, resulting in the death of five people. The crash on September 6, 2026, involved Prime Air Flight 7598, operated by 21 Air. It was landing when it went past the runway, leading to a series of collisions.

Abraham Altamar, who was nearby during the crash, spoke about the chaos. He encountered one of the pilots visibly shaken and injured. Altamar offered his help, but the pilot declined, stating emergency services had already been alerted. The pilot made a quick call to his wife, reassuring her of his safety. Witnesses heard him express concern about his career being over.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the incident. Initial reports suggest the plane hit vital equipment and a cleaning crew van carrying seven people. It then collided with a Toyota SUV, demolished fences, and ultimately stopped near parked Tesla robotaxis.

Joseph Carroll, 55, and Jaime Felipe Silva Molina, 37, have been identified as the pilots. Both were treated and released from medical care. Although one crew member was seen jumping from the plane, no interviews with the crew have been conducted by the NTSB yet. The plane’s black boxes are currently under analysis in Washington, D.C.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy described the crash as devastating, noting significant debris and tire marks extending through grass areas. The crash has brought attention to safety features such as the Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS), which could potentially prevent similar incidents. While EMAS is deployed at over 70 airports in the U.S., it’s not utilized at the runway involved in this accident due to its sufficient safety area.

Both 21 Air and Amazon are cooperating with ongoing investigations, aiming to uncover all causes and implement future safety measures.