An Amazon Air cargo flight, operated by 21 Air, overshot the runway at Miami International Airport on a recent Sunday, resulting in five fatalities and five injuries. The Boeing 767 was traveling at approximately 182 miles per hour upon touchdown, taking 11 seconds for all its wheels to engage the pavement. This incident has drawn attention to 21 Air, the cargo airline controlled by Jim Crane, owner of the Houston Astros.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation revealed that one pilot had warned about the plane's excessive speed more than a minute before landing, and electronic warnings subsequently blared in the cockpit. Despite these alerts, the two-pilot crew continued their approach. This information comes from cockpit voice recordings.
Following the crash, 21 Air released a statement expressing devastation and offering condolences, affirming full cooperation with authorities. The five victims were identified as Rolando Aleman, 55, Yoel Rodriguez Naranjo, 53, Julio C Pineda, 75, Carlos Acosta Fajardo, 53, and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo, 47. The two pilots, Joseph Carroll, 55, and Jaime Felipe Silva Molina, 37, were released from the hospital, while three others remain hospitalized, two in critical condition.
Former employees of 21 Air have raised concerns about the airline's safety practices. Whistleblowers have alleged issues ranging from inadequate documentation of safety concerns to pressure on pilots to complete routes quickly, potentially compromising rest requirements. These complaints have reportedly been ongoing, with some former pilots expressing that a tragedy like this was anticipated. Jim Crane acquired 21 Air in 2021 and has since expanded its fleet from four or five aircraft to 16.
