NTSB Recovers Black Boxes From Amazon Cargo Plane Crash That Killed Five in Miami

Investigators recovered the flight recorders from an Amazon cargo plane that overran a runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday, struck two vehicles and killed five people on the ground.

Flight Recorders Recovered

Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from the Amazon Prime Air cargo plane that overran the runway at Miami International Airport. [3] The two devices, commonly referred to as the black boxes, were being returned to the agency's headquarters in Washington on Monday night for evaluation. [1] NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered and are being sent to NTSB headquarters for evaluation. [2] The agency stated that investigators remain in the fact-finding stage and that a probable cause of the accident would not be determined until the end of the investigation. [1] Homendy noted that the NTSB was still recovering and recording evidence at the scene. [1]

Sequence of the Crash

The Boeing 767-33A operated by Miami-based 21 Air LLC overran the runway by some 1,300 feet and crashed into two vehicles on the ground. [1] The plane struck navigational aids and equipment after overrunning the runway, before hitting a white Ford van owned by a contract cleaning company. [2] It then travelled through a perimeter fence and collided with a Toyota Corolla, coming to rest about 1,300 feet beyond the runway. [2] The 32-year-old Boeing 767-300, operated by 21 Air, overshot the runway shortly before 14:00 local time on Sunday. [2] The aircraft hit two vehicles, including a white van carrying seven people within the airport perimeter and a Toyota with three passengers. [2] The Econoline van on the airport grounds carried seven people from an airline cleaning crew, while the Toyota SUV was driving on a road beyond the perimeter fence. [1]

Casualties and Scene Description

Five people were killed and five others seriously injured when the Boeing 767-300 struck the vehicles. [2] The two people aboard the plane, the pilot and co-pilot, survived and had yet to be interviewed. [1] Five people were injured, three of them critically. [1] Homendy, leading a team of 32 investigators at Miami International Airport, said the five people killed were from the two vehicles struck on the ground. [1] The van contained a team from Professional Ocean Service Corp, which provides cleaning services for airlines, and the SUV beyond the airport perimeter fence was traveling on Northwest 67th Avenue. [1] Asked to describe the scene, Homendy responded: "Utter devastation." [1] She added that tire marks continued through the grass, debris was everywhere, the Econoline van was torn apart, and the SUV showed deployed airbags with components from the vehicles and aircraft scattered. [1] Homendy described the crash scene as "devastating," with debris from the aircraft, vehicles and airport fencing scattered across the area. [2] Reuters photos showed the jet with its nose on the ground and tail tilted up, and the right side of the plane had what appeared to be scorch marks. [1]

Aircraft and Flight History

The Amazon cargo plane was on its third flight of the day, coming from San Juan, Puerto Rico. [1] It had flown from Cincinnati to Miami, and from Miami to San Juan, earlier on Sunday before the crash at 1:53 p.m. EDT. [1] The aircraft had two crew members on board and was arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, on its third flight of the day. [2] The Boeing 767-300 freighter, operated by 21 Air for Amazon Prime Air, overran the runway while landing in Miami on Sunday. [4]

Investigation Focus

Homendy briefed reporters on the early stages of the investigation but said a probable cause would not be determined until the end. [1] Part of the NTSB investigation will examine the significance of the lack of runway material designed to stop runaway aircraft, as not every U.S. airport has an Engineered Materials Arresting System, or EMAS. [1] Investigators will examine the flight history, crew experience and training, radar data, and aircraft performance. [2] Separate teams will look at the plane's systems and engines, while a meteorologist will assess the weather conditions at the time of landing. [2] The NTSB will also examine whether the runway should have had an engineered materials arresting system, which is designed to slow and stop aircraft that overrun a runway, and Homendy said this would be a key part of the investigation. [2] Earlier analysis found there was an active thunderstorm near the airport shortly before the crash, with winds gusting up to 26 knots. [2] Federal investigators were working to determine why the Amazon cargo plane overran the runway. [4]

Airport Impact and Public Appeal

Although the airport halted all flights immediately after the crash, flights had resumed by Sunday evening. [1] The NTSB was still recovering evidence and crews were still removing jet fuel from the scene and aircraft, keeping two of the airport's four runways closed. [1] Two of the four runways at the airport remained closed following the crash. [2] Homendy also asked the public to send in any photos or videos of the scene, saying those images could aid the investigation. [1] The NTSB has appealed for members of the public to share photographs or videos that could aid the investigation. [2]

What to watch next: The NTSB will continue collecting evidence at the scene before turning to analysis of the recovered recorders at headquarters, with Homendy stating that the agency will make safety recommendations at the end of its investigation to prevent the next tragedy.