Black box recovered from fatal cargo plane crash

Update, 6:30 p.m.: 

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy delivered a Monday afternoon update on the investigation into Sunday crash that killed five people at Miami International Airport. She advised the public to temper its expectations for details. It will take time before more details on the crash are verified and released, she said.

Recovering victims’ bodies from the wreckage remained officials' top priority, Homendy said. Crews also continued working to clean up jet fuel from the scene and remove any fuel from the engine before investigators could safely process the scene, she added. Officials did recover the aircraft’s black box, which has been sent back to NTSB headquarters for evaluation, Homendy added. On Tuesday, the team of 32 investigators will break into smaller groups focused on specific factors involved in the crash, including air traffic data, policy, and air performance, she added.

An Amazon cargo plane sits at the Miami International Airport (MIA) after it overshot the runway, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. Associated Press / Photo by Lynne Sladky

Original story, 9:15 a.m. Monday: 

Amazon cargo plane crash in Miami leaves five dead

Five people were killed when an Amazon cargo plane overran a runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday. Three other people were in critical condition and taken to a trauma center, while two were taken to a local hospital, officials said in a news conference Sunday evening. The plane struck ground vehicles and sent black smoke into the air as it caught fire, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Raied Jadallah said. Officials did not immediately identify the deceased and injured people. On Sunday evening, it was unclear if the people who died from the crash had been in the plane or on the ground.

More than 200 personnel responded to the crash, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said. Both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board said they were investigating the crash.

How did the plane crash? As of Sunday evening, officials said it was unclear what led to the incident. The 767 freighter was going nearly 130 miles per hour when it left the usable portion of the runway, according to flight tracking site Flightradar24. The flight had originated from San Juan, Puerto Rico. North Carolina-based 21 Air operated the flight on behalf of Amazon Air, which ships merchandise globally, Flightradar24 said.

21 Air gave its condolences to the families and loved ones of those who had died, and was fully cooperating with the investigations, company CEO Keith Winters said in an online statement. Amazon said it was working closely with local authorities and officials to understand what happened, a spokeswoman told media outlets.