Amazon has suspended its operations with cargo carrier 21 Air following a fatal runway accident at Miami International Airport that killed five people and injured five others.

The decision comes after a Boeing 767 operated by 21 Air for Amazon’s air-cargo network overran the runway while landing at the Florida airport on September 6. The aircraft, carrying Amazon packages, travelled roughly 1,300 feet beyond the end of the runway before striking vehicles near the airport perimeter.

All five people killed in the accident were travelling in a van operated by an aircraft-cleaning company. Five other people were injured in the crash, including the two pilots aboard the cargo aircraft.

Amazon said it had reviewed the circumstances surrounding the accident and decided to temporarily halt its operations with 21 Air. The company said it would continue cooperating with investigators and supporting those affected by the tragedy.

The suspension places increased attention on 21 Air, a North Carolina-based cargo operator that has transported packages for Amazon since 2024. The carrier’s aircraft had been integrated into Amazon’s air-freight operations, allowing packages to be moved through the company’s wider logistics network.

Investigation focuses on landing and aircraft operations

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the circumstances that led to the crash. Investigators are examining several factors, including the aircraft’s operating history, maintenance records, weather conditions at the airport and the procedures followed by the carrier.

Preliminary information released by investigators indicates that the aircraft approached the runway at an excessive speed. One of the pilots reportedly warned the other pilot that the aircraft was travelling too fast during the approach and again after touchdown.

The cockpit recordings also contained automated warnings related to the aircraft’s descent and proximity to terrain. Investigators are expected to use the cockpit voice recorder and flight-data recorder, along with other evidence from the crash site, to establish a detailed timeline of the final moments of the flight.

The complete cockpit conversation has not yet been released as the investigation remains ongoing.

Aircraft had been converted from passenger use

The aircraft involved was a 32-year-old Boeing 767. It was originally manufactured as a passenger aircraft and operated for several airlines internationally before being converted into a freighter in 2015.

The aircraft was being used to transport cargo rather than passengers when the accident occurred. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft’s maintenance history and operational records as part of the broader inquiry.

The age and previous operating history of the aircraft do not by themselves establish a cause of the accident. Investigators will have to determine whether mechanical, operational, environmental or human factors contributed to the runway overrun.

Fatal crash raises questions about aviation safety

The accident has renewed attention on safety procedures surrounding cargo operations, particularly the responsibilities shared between major logistics companies and contracted air carriers.

Amazon relies on multiple aviation partners to operate its air-cargo network. The temporary suspension of 21 Air allows the company to review the carrier’s operations while investigators work to establish what caused the Miami crash.

For investigators, the central questions include why the aircraft approached the runway at such a high speed, how the crew responded to the situation and whether the aircraft’s systems and operating procedures functioned as expected.

The NTSB investigation will also consider external factors such as weather conditions and runway circumstances. Investigators typically examine evidence from flight recorders, aircraft components, maintenance documents, crew qualifications, operational procedures and airport conditions before reaching conclusions about an accident.

Amazon continues to support investigation

Amazon has said it will continue assisting the investigation and supporting those affected by the crash. The company has not indicated how long its suspension of 21 Air operations will remain in place.

The decision means other carriers within Amazon’s air-cargo network will have to absorb operations previously handled by 21 Air while the investigation continues.

For 21 Air, the accident represents a significant setback as investigators examine the carrier’s role in the fatal incident. The company had been operating Amazon packages since 2024 and was responsible for the aircraft involved in Flight 7598.

The final cause of the crash has not been determined. Investigators are expected to conduct further analysis of the flight data, cockpit recordings, aircraft condition, weather and operational procedures before issuing a final finding.