Amazon announced on Sunday the suspension of its collaboration with 21 Air following a tragic incident where one of the cargo carrier’s planes veered off a Miami runway, resulting in the death of five individuals. The Boeing 767 overshot the runway by approximately 396 meters on September 6, colliding with a van transporting workers from a plane cleaning company, causing fatalities and injuries.
Amazon’s spokesperson, Kelly Nantel, stated that after investigating the circumstances surrounding the event, they have chosen to halt operations with 21 Air, the operator of Flight 7598. The company has been providing package delivery services for Amazon since 2024. 21 Air, based in North Carolina, has not yet responded to Amazon’s decision.
The National Transportation Safety Board investigators are set to examine the aircraft’s ownership history, weather conditions during the incident, maintenance records, and the operational practices of 21 Air. Flight data released by the NTSB on September 9 revealed that one of the pilots had cautioned about excessive speed during landing. Cockpit audio recordings also captured automated warnings about descent speed and approaching terrain.
The Boeing 767, 32 years old, was initially designed for passenger transport and operated with various airlines globally before being converted into a cargo plane in 2015. The full transcript of the cockpit conversation is expected to be disclosed later in the investigation process.