Five people were killed and five others injured after an Amazon cargo plane crashed at Miami International Airport on Sunday. This is according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The victims were people inside vehicles on the ground rather than passengers or crew members aboard the aircraft, the NTSB said.
Cargo Plane Struck Vehicles on the Ground
The Boeing 767 went off the runway and collided with a van operated by an airline cleaning company. This is according to NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy.
Homendy described the condition of the van as devastating, saying it was essentially torn apart during the impact.
After striking the van, the aircraft continued beyond the airport grounds. It broke through a fence and crossed a public roadway before colliding with an SUV.
The plane eventually came to a stop just short of a group of parked vehicles. Therefore, this prevented what could have been an even larger disaster.
Five People Killed and Five Injured
The NTSB confirmed that five people died in the crash and another five were injured.
Emergency crews responded to the airport following the incident. Meanwhile, investigators began examining the circumstances that caused the cargo aircraft to leave the runway.
The fact that all of the fatalities occurred on the ground has become a central part of the investigation. Authorities are now working to reconstruct the sequence of events.
NTSB Leads Investigation Into the Crash
Federal investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, runway conditions, and flight data. In addition, they will look at other evidence as they determine what caused the Boeing 767 to veer off the runway.
Investigators will also analyze the aircraft’s movements after it left the runway. This includes its collisions with the cleaning van and SUV.
The investigation could take time as officials work to establish the exact cause of the crash. They will also determine whether mechanical, operational or environmental factors played a role.
Miami Airport Crash Raises Safety Questions
The incident has renewed attention on aviation safety around major airports. This is where aircraft operate close to ground vehicles, public roads and other infrastructure.
The NTSB’s investigation will be closely watched as authorities seek answers about how the crash unfolded. Moreover, they want to know what measures could help prevent a similar tragedy in the future.
