On September 6, a cargo plane bearing the Amazon logo crashed at Miami International Airport, resulting in a fatal accident. Today, on September 14, Amazon announced the suspension of its cooperation with the cargo airline 21 Air.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated in a released statement, “Following the tragic incident that occurred last weekend, we have been assisting in the investigation and reviewing the circumstances, leading to the decision to temporarily suspend our partnership with the operator of Flight 7598, 21 Air. We will continue to assist in the investigation and help all those affected.”
The flight operated by 21 Air for Amazon Air departed from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and upon landing in Miami, it veered off the runway for about 1300 feet, hitting several cars on the ground, resulting in at least 5 fatalities and 5 injuries.
In recent years, 21 Air has been operating Boeing 767 freighters for Amazon. The crashed aircraft was a Boeing 767-300 cargo plane.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the United States is investigating the accident. Preliminary flight recorder data indicates that the pilots expressed concerns about the aircraft’s speed during the landing.
Investigators also noted that preliminary recording data reveals there were no signs that the spoilers or thrust reversers were engaged before the plane went off the runway.
In a statement, 21 Air mentioned that the company will continue to focus on supporting the families affected by the accident and collaborate with investigators. They expressed confidence in their safety policies, procedures, and training.
Keith Winters, the CEO of 21 Air, expressed deep sorrow over the incident in a statement, stating that the company is fully cooperating with the NTSB, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and local authorities in the investigation.
The crash has also led to lawsuits in Florida, with plaintiffs alleging negligence on the part of 21 Air, Amazon, and other relevant parties.
This accident marks the first fatal incident in Amazon’s air cargo network since 2019. In that year, an Atlas Air Boeing 767 freighter operated for Amazon crashed near Houston, Texas, resulting in the loss of all three crew members.
(Reference: FOX Business)