NTSB Details Critical Errors in Miami Amazon Cargo Crash
A preliminary NTSB report finds an Amazon Prime Air Boeing 767 overran a Miami runway due to a late touchdown and incorrect flap settings.
An Amazon Prime Air cargo jet overran the runway at Miami International Airport in early September, killing five people and injuring five others. The National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report, released on September 6, 2023, confirms the Boeing 767-33A operated by contractor 21 Air touched down far too late and lacked sufficient deceleration before crashing through a perimeter fence and into vehicles on a public road.
The aircraft touched down about 3,750 feet beyond the displaced threshold at the approach end of Runway 30. The runway measures 9,360 feet in total. The jet was traveling at 184 mph and was already 0.75 miles past the runway start. It failed to stop, crossing Northwest 67th Avenue before coming to a halt 1,200 feet from the paved surface.
Critical Landing Errors
Multiple technical and procedural failures during the landing sequence directly contributed to the accident. The flight data recorders showed the plane's speed brakes remained stowed and its thrust reversers did not deploy at all during the landing and rollout. The jet was also configured with an incorrect 25-degree flap setting instead of the requested 30 degrees.
The pilots' braking actions were inconsistent and too late. The wheel brakes were first applied at 168 mph, then briefly released at 138 mph. They were reapplied with only 415 feet of runway remaining, just before the plane ran off the end. The last recorded ground speed was 75 mph after the aircraft had crashed through the perimeter fence. The NTSB reported that one pilot warned the other about excessive speed during the approach. Cockpit voice recordings indicated the other pilot did not give a consistent verbal response to these warnings. A very late go-around attempt was also made.
The crash killed five of the seven employees of a plane cleaning company who were in a van that was struck. Five other people were injured, including the driver of an SUV that was also hit. The two pilots were not seriously injured.
Regulatory and Operational Failures
Air traffic control oversights and regulatory non-compliance exacerbated the dangerous conditions. The report cited weather conditions at the time, with 17-knot winds and gusts up to 30 mph during the landing. An air traffic controller failed to issue a required wind advisory to the cargo plane's pilots about the tailwind component, despite having provided one to another flight just four minutes earlier. Federal regulations mandate that wind direction and velocity be stated when a tailwind component exists. Aviation experts stated these tail winds likely contributed to the crash by making it much harder to slow the aircraft down. Also, Runway 30 lacked an Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS), which is designed to safely stop overrunning aircraft.
Aftermath and Accountability
The incident has triggered legal action, a suspended partnership, and internal safety reviews. Amazon suspended its partnership with the cargo airline, 21 Air, following the crash. Multiple lawsuits have been filed by family members of the victims. Aviation attorney Pablo Rojas represents survivor Roosevelt Sebastián Torres, who was in the van and survived the crash. The airline stated it was reviewing the NTSB's 12-page preliminary report and would take action to improve safety. The investigation closes on the NTSB's finding that the pilots' inconsistent responses to speed warnings during the approach were a critical factor in the crash.
