NTSB Probes Fatal Cargo Jet Crash at Miami Airport

Investigators are working to determine why an Amazon cargo jet overshot a runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday, crashing into two vehicles and killing five people on the ground. The Boeing 767, arriving from Puerto Rico after a two-hour flight, struck a van on airport property before crashing through a fence and hitting an SUV on a public street.

All five victims were part of a cleaning crew traveling in the van, which was owned by Professional Ocean Service Corp. Two other people in the van survived, as did the pilot and co-pilot. The Miami-Dade sheriff identified the deceased as Rolando Aleman Leon, 55; Yoel Rodriguez Naranjo, 53; Julio C. Pineda, 75; Carlos Acosta Fajardo, 53; and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo, 47.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy described the scene as "utter devastation," with vehicle debris, air bags, and destroyed navigational equipment scattered along the plane's path. Investigators could not fully access the site until Monday evening, after all jet fuel had been recovered.

The plane traveled roughly 1,300 feet (396 meters) past the runway's end. Weather conditions included storms brewing around the airport at the time of landing. Former FAA official Mike O'Donnell noted that the aircraft touched down on its nose and right landing gear first, indicating an unstable approach. He suggested the pilot may have attempted a "go-around" to redo the landing. Video footage shows the plane hovering over the runway without flaring the nose to set the wheels down. Experts believe a strong tailwind pushed the aircraft far beyond its intended touchdown point, and air traffic controllers had not adjusted the approach to allow landing into a headwind.

Hundreds of flights have been delayed or canceled as the investigation continues. By late Tuesday, only one of the airport's four runways remained closed, suggesting disruptions may ease soon. Amazon said it is cooperating with the investigation and expressed sympathy for the victims' families. Professional Ocean Service Corp. declined to comment, saying its employees are "family" and that their hearts and prayers are with those affected.