USA. – Five people have died and five others have been injured after a Boeing 767 cargo plane veered off the runway on Sunday at Miami International Airport and struck several vehicles outside the airport. The plane then caught fire.
The 21 Air plane, which operates for Amazon Air, landed shortly before 14:00 from San Juan in Puerto Rico. The plane departed the runway at the end of runway 30, crossed the airport's perimeter and struck several vehicles on Northwest 42nd Avenue before coming to a halt in a field and catching fire.
There were only two pilots on board. Both survived the crash, but are among the five injured taken to hospitals. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said rescue workers had to free them from the cabin. According to fire chief Raied Jadallah, three of the injured were taken in critical condition to a trauma centre, while two others were transported to local hospitals. People were reportedly trapped in some of the vehicles struck by the plane.
More than 60 fire and rescue units and approximately 200 personnel were deployed to the scene. Miami-Dade's mayor, Daniella Levine Cava, said the investigation into the cause of the accident has just begun. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are working together with local authorities. Levine Cava said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue teams were on scene within less than 30 seconds of the accident to extinguish the fire and assist the injured.
Two of Miami International Airport's four runways remain closed while investigators continue their work. This could affect flights and passengers are advised to contact their airlines directly before departure to check flight status. The names of the deceased have not yet been released. A helpline has been established for family members.
Sources: Miami Dade County, Miami Herald, Miami International Airport,
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
