At least five people were killed Sunday after an Amazon cargo plane barreled off a runway at Miami International Airport, slammed into vehicles and burst into flames in a horrifying afternoon crash.
The aircraft overshot the runway around 2 p.m. after arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, according to authorities.
Five people were confirmed dead, while three others were critically injured. Two additional victims were hospitalized with less serious injuries, Miami-Dade County officials said.
Authorities said Sunday afternoon it was still unclear whether those killed had been aboard the plane or were inside vehicles struck during the crash.
The terrifying accident sent thick black smoke pouring into the sky and sparked a massive emergency response at one of the nation’s busiest airports.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Ray Jadallah said the pilot and copilot became trapped inside the cockpit following the crash. Several people were also trapped inside vehicles, while another person was pinned beneath a vehicle.
Images from the scene showed the Prime Air jet resting on its belly near a roadway and two semi-trucks. Despite the intense fire, much of the aircraft appeared to remain intact.
Firefighters were still battling a fuel leak from the plane several hours after the crash.
The disaster brought operations at Miami International Airport to a standstill for much of Sunday afternoon, snarling travel for thousands of passengers.
Around 250 flights had been delayed by late afternoon, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware.
The plane was being operated by 21 Air, a North Carolina-based cargo carrier, on behalf of Amazon.
The Boeing 767 was approximately 32 years old and originally built as a passenger aircraft. It flew for several airlines for more than two decades before being converted into a cargo plane in 2015, according to Flightradar24.
The National Transportation Safety Board announced that it was sending investigators to Miami, with NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy leading the team.
Amazon said it would fully cooperate with the investigation.
“We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today’s incident at Miami International Airport,” the company said. “Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss.”
Jackson Lee, who operates an electronics shop near the crash scene, said he and four coworkers rushed outside after hearing about the accident and spotted smoke rising near the airport fence.
“We hear planes taking off and landing every five minutes. I thought I’d got used to it,” Lee said. “I never thought it could come this close to us.”
Investigators are now working to determine what caused the cargo jet to overrun the runway and crash.