A Boeing 767 cargo jet flying for Amazon’s Prime Air operation ran off the end of a runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday afternoon, crossed a road and erupted in smoke as stunned drivers watched from just yards away.

The aircraft remained largely intact in the first video from the scene, but thick black smoke poured into the sky behind it. Cars and trucks stopped in the roadway as the disabled jet came to rest near the airport’s cargo area.

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The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft as 21 Air Flight 7598. The agency said the Boeing 767-300 overran the runway after landing at approximately 2 p.m. local time.

The flight had departed Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was arriving in Miami when the incident occurred. The FAA said it will investigate.

WSVN 7News reported that the aircraft went beyond the end of Runway 30. Video reviewed by the station appeared to show the jet crossing the airport perimeter road and Northwest 67th Avenue before stopping in a field.

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The station also reported that Miami International Airport grounded departures following the crash. The ground stop was in effect by 2:30 p.m. Sunday as emergency crews responded and officials began assessing the scene.

The early images are dramatic, but there are important limits to what has been confirmed. Authorities had not released an official injury count when this report was published, and the FAA had not said what caused the jet to overrun the runway.

That distinction matters in the first hours after an aviation emergency, when unverified casualty claims can race across social media much faster than investigators can establish the facts.

21 Air describes itself as a U.S. all-cargo airline authorized to transport property and mail using Boeing 767 aircraft. The company is headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, and maintains an address in Miami’s airport cargo district.

The airplane was painted in Prime Air branding, the air-cargo network Amazon uses to move packages. Prime Air contracts with airline operators to fly many of the jets carrying its colors; in this case, the FAA named 21 Air as the flight’s operator.

NBC 6 South Florida independently published video recorded outside the airport showing the plane beyond the runway and smoke rising from the crash site. The footage gives a wider view of the emergency than the first still images: the fuselage appears largely intact, the tail remains upright, and stopped vehicles are visible near the aircraft while a dark plume grows overhead.

The station reported that Miami International Airport imposed a ground stop because of a disabled aircraft on the runway. Its initial report did not identify a cause or provide confirmed information about injuries.

That restraint is significant because dramatic social-media claims began circulating almost immediately. The public statements from the airport and FAA remained limited to the overrun, the aircraft, the flight route and the federal investigation.

The visible damage, roadway crossing and heavy smoke make this a major aviation incident even before investigators determine why it happened. What matters most now is the condition of everyone aboard and anyone who may have been in the aircraft’s path.

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This is a developing story. WLT Report will update it when the FAA, Miami International Airport or local emergency officials release confirmed new information.

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport. View the original article here.

 

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