Amazon cargo crew attempted to abort landing before fatal crash

The National Transportation Safety Board disclosed on Tuesday that flight data recorder evidence indicates the pilots of an Amazon Prime Air cargo airplane attempted to abort their landing after the aircraft had touched down, moments before a fatal crash.

The 32-year-old Boeing 767, operated by Miami-based carrier 21 Air, overran the runway by roughly 1,300 feet and struck two vehicles on Sunday, killing five people and injuring five others.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said investigators are scheduled to interview both pilots on Wednesday and will subsequently release details from the cockpit voice recorder.

According to the NTSB, the nose landing gear and right main landing gear touched down on the runway at 158 knots 30 seconds before the flight data recording concluded. The left main landing gear touched down at 134 knots 19 seconds before the end of the recording.

A few seconds later, the brakes were released and throttles advanced to a setting consistent with go-around thrust, indicating a late attempt to abandon the landing and return to the air.

The throttles then returned to idle and brakes were re-applied 11 seconds before the recording ended. The aircraft's final recorded ground speed was 65 knots.

The NTSB stated that the data showed no indication that speed brakes or thrust reversers had been used to slow the plane.

Homendy is leading a team of 32 investigators at Miami International Airport. She said one of the two runways closed since the accident was reopened late Tuesday, enabling departures in an easterly direction.

The Amazon cargo plane was conducting its third flight of the day, arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico. It had earlier flown from Cincinnati to Miami and then from Miami to San Juan on Sunday prior to the 1:53 p.m. EDT crash.

The captain, aged 55, obtained his 767 type rating in May and has 7,145 hours of flight experience. The 37-year-old first officer earned his 767 type rating in April 2025 and has accumulated 2,655 flight hours.

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