An Amazon Prime Air cargo plane crashed while landing at Miami International Airport in Florida on Sunday, killing five people and injuring five others, authorities said. The Boeing 767 overran a runway, struck several vehicles and caught fire, triggering a major emergency response at the airport.

Prime Air Flight 7598, operated by North Carolina-based cargo carrier 21 Air, was arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it ran beyond the runway at around 2 pm local time. Three of the injured were taken to trauma centres in critical condition, while two others were transported to local hospitals.

The identities of those killed and injured had not been publicly released at the time of the latest official updates. Authorities were also working to determine whether those who died were aboard the aircraft or on the ground.

Plane Overruns Runway

The aircraft overran Miami International Airport's diagonal runway shortly before 2 pm and came to rest near the airport's northwest end. The plane struck multiple vehicles after leaving the runway before catching fire.

Firefighters arriving at the scene found heavy flames and thick smoke coming from the aircraft. The crash created a complex rescue operation involving victims trapped inside vehicles as well as the aircraft.

More than 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units and nearly 200 emergency personnel were deployed to deal with the fire, rescue victims and secure the crash site.

Five People Killed

Miami-Dade County officials confirmed that five people died in the accident. Five others were injured, including three who remained in critical condition after being taken to trauma centres.

Fire Chief Ray Jadallah said rescue teams had to carry out a technical extrication after the aircraft struck vehicles. Crews also conducted search-and-rescue operations involving the pilot and co-pilot, who were trapped inside the cockpit.

Officials did not immediately provide details about the condition or fate of the flight crew. Authorities said the investigation would determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Emergency Crews Respond

The scale of the crash required a large emergency response. Firefighters used specialised airport firefighting equipment and foam to battle the flames while rescue teams searched the aircraft and surrounding area.

Officials also reported a fuel leak following the crash, adding to the challenges faced by emergency personnel at the scene.

Miami-Dade authorities described the incident as a highly complex rescue operation. The sheriff's office said there was no apparent continuing threat to public safety following the crash.

Airport Operations Disrupted

The crash initially forced Miami International Airport to close all runways and taxiways and impose a ground stop. The disruption affected flights arriving at and departing from one of the major aviation hubs serving the southeastern United States and Latin America.

Airport operations gradually resumed, with some runways reopened later in the day. Travellers were advised to check with their airlines before heading to the airport because delays and cancellations were expected.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Federal Aviation Administration was sending investigators to examine the accident.

NTSB Launches Probe

The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the crash. The agency said it was sending a team, known as a go team, to investigate the runway excursion.

The Federal Aviation Administration is also investigating. Officials have not yet determined why the Boeing 767 failed to stop within the runway area.

Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, runway conditions, weather, flight data, maintenance records and crew actions as they work to establish the cause of the accident.

Amazon Offers Support

Amazon confirmed that an aircraft operated on its behalf by 21 Air experienced an incident while attempting to land at Miami International Airport.

The company said it was working with local authorities and officials to establish what happened. Amazon also said the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved remained its immediate priority.

The Boeing 767-300 involved in the accident was a cargo aircraft operated by 21 Air for Amazon Prime Air. Investigators will now examine the aircraft and operational records as part of the formal probe.

Investigation To Determine Cause

The immediate focus remains on the victims, the crash site and the investigation into the runway overrun. Authorities have not attributed the accident to any specific technical, operational or weather-related factor.

The NTSB and FAA are expected to provide further information as investigators recover evidence and analyse flight data. Officials have urged the public and travellers to rely on verified updates while the investigation continues.

The Miami crash adds to the safety scrutiny surrounding cargo operations involving Boeing 767 aircraft, but investigators will need to establish the specific circumstances of Sunday's accident before drawing conclusions about its cause.