Five people have been killed and five others injured after an Amazon cargo plane crashed while landing at Miami International Airport in the United States.
The Boeing 767-300, operated by 21 Air, overran the runway on Sunday and struck a cleaning van carrying seven people before breaking through the airport’s perimeter fence and colliding with a Toyota Corolla carrying three people.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the fatalities and injuries occurred among people in the two vehicles on the ground.
Speaking at a news conference at Miami International Airport on Monday, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy described the crash site as “utter devastation” and said it was too early to determine what caused the accident.
Homendy said the aircraft had two crew members on board and was arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, on its third flight of the day.
After overrunning the runway, the aircraft struck navigational aids and other airport equipment before hitting a white Ford van operated by a contract cleaning company.
It then broke through the perimeter fence and collided with a Toyota Corolla, coming to rest about 1,300 feet (394 metres) beyond the runway.
The NTSB has recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, which are being sent to the agency’s headquarters for analysis.
Homendy said investigators were still gathering evidence and could not yet make any substantive conclusions about the cause of the crash.
Investigators will examine the aircraft’s flight history, crew experience and training, radar data and aircraft performance. Separate teams will inspect the plane’s systems and engines, while a meteorologist will assess weather conditions at the time of the landing.
The NTSB will also investigate whether the runway should have been equipped with an engineered materials arresting system (EMAS), which is designed to slow or stop aircraft that overrun runways.
Homendy described the issue as a key part of the investigation.
Earlier analysis by BBC Verify found that an active thunderstorm was near the airport shortly before the crash, with winds gusting at up to 26 knots (48 km/h).
The NTSB has appealed to members of the public to submit photographs or videos that could assist the investigation.
Homendy said the agency would issue safety recommendations at the conclusion of its investigation, stressing that the aim was to prevent similar accidents in the future.
Meanwhile, two of the airport’s four runways remained closed following the crash, while passengers were warned to expect further disruption.
The incident occurred during the US Labor Day holiday weekend, one of the busiest travel periods in the country, with Sunday’s cancellations affecting the arrival of aircraft and flight crews.
Amazon said it was “heartbroken” by the loss of life and was working closely with authorities.
21 Air, the company operating the aircraft, also expressed its condolences and said it was cooperating with investigators.
