Data shows Amazon jet’s key braking systems did not deploy during deadly Miami crash: NTSB
Amazon Cargo Plane Overruns Miami Airport Runway, Killing Five People
Miami, Fla. – A Prime Air cargo jet, operated for Amazon, slid off the runway of Miami International Airport on Sunday, striking two vehicles and bringing the aircraft to rest near a parking lot. Five people were killed and five others injured in the incident, which prompted a large emergency response.
The aircraft, identified as Prime Air Flight 7598, was en route to the airport with a cargo load that was largely composed of contact lenses, weighing 32,222 pounds, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). No hazardous materials were aboard.
Investigators say the jet’s wheel brakes were applied at the time of landing, but data from the aircraft’s flight recorders show that the speed brakes and thrust reversers – key systems designed to slow a plane after touchdown – were not deployed. “There was no indication in the recorded data that speed brakes or thrust reversers were deployed,” said Chihoon Shin, the NTSB investigator leading the investigation. “When we analyze the full list of parameters, we'll have a better idea of the aircraft's performance during this landing. We need to talk to the crew and get their account to understand how they're manipulating the controls.”
Shin added that investigators will interview the pilots and are not yet speculating on the cause of the failure to deploy the braking aids. “I’m not going to speculate on what should have been right now,” he said.
The NTSB’s Chairwoman, Jennifer Homendy, released details on the two pilots involved. The captain, 55, had 7,145 flight hours; the first officer, 37, had 2,655 flight hours. Homendy noted, “We confirmed there was no hazmat on board. The cargo was mainly contact lenses… and a flight kit.”
At least seven of the victims were passengers in a van that was crushed on airport property. After the jet crossed the airport fence, it struck a second civilian vehicle before coming to a stop.
The crash was declared a “deadly” incident by Miami authorities, who dispatched emergency teams, fire crews, and medical personnel to the scene. The airport remained closed for several hours while investigators worked to secure the area and retrieve data.
As the investigation proceeds, officials have urged calm and said more information will be released as the NTSB reviews the flight data and interviews the crew. The incident has reignited discussions about cargo airline safety protocols, particularly the use of speed brakes and thrust reversers during landings on short runways.