MIAMI — At least five people were killed after an Amazon cargo aircraft overran the runway while landing at Miami International Airport, striking multiple vehicles on a road surrounding the airport, authorities said.
The crash occurred as the aircraft was completing its landing at one of the United States’ busiest airports. Emergency crews responded to the scene, while authorities worked to secure the area and determine the circumstances that caused the aircraft to leave the runway. The incident is expected to prompt scrutiny of runway safety, aircraft operations and emergency response procedures at major international airports.
Miami International Airport is a major gateway between the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean and handles millions of passengers and large volumes of cargo each year. Its location and extensive road network around the airport have made aviation safety and coordination with surrounding communities longstanding concerns.
Major airport accidents in the United States have historically led to changes in aviation safety standards, including improvements in runway design, aircraft braking systems, emergency response and procedures for preventing aircraft from leaving runways.
Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft’s flight data, weather conditions, runway surface, braking performance and the crew’s actions as part of efforts to establish what caused the accident.
The crash comes as aviation authorities continue to emphasize runway safety following decades of efforts to reduce accidents during takeoff and landing, which remain among the most critical phases of flight
