Amazon.com has suspended its operations with 21 Air, a cargo carrier that operates flights for Amazon Prime Air. This decision comes after one of 21 Air's Boeing 767-300 cargo planes overshot a runway at Miami International Airport on September 6, 2026. The incident resulted in the deaths of five people and injuries to five others, as the plane crashed into several vehicles before coming to a stop.
The crash has drawn significant attention to 21 Air and its owner, Jim Crane, who is also known as a logistics magnate and owner of the Houston Astros. The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into the crash, examining factors such as the aircraft's ownership history, weather conditions, maintenance records, and 21 Air's operational procedures. Initial flight recorder evidence indicates that the pilots raised concerns about the aircraft's speed during the landing approach and after touchdown. Automated warnings about the speed of descent and approaching terrain were also captured in the cockpit audio recordings.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated that safety is a top priority for the company, both in its own operations and with its partners. The company is supporting the ongoing investigation and everyone affected by the tragedy. 21 Air, which began flying packages for Amazon in 2024, expressed its focus on supporting the affected families and cooperating with the NTSB. The carrier also affirmed its confidence in its safety policies, procedures, and training. The 32-year-old Boeing 767 had previously flown for various international airlines as a passenger plane before being converted to a cargo aircraft in 2015. This incident marks the first fatal accident involving Amazon's air cargo network since 2019, when an Atlas Air Boeing 767 crashed in Texas, killing all three people aboard.
