Amazon said Sunday it is pausing its partnership with North Carolina‑based cargo carrier 21 Air after a tragic runway overrun in Miami claimed five lives. The Boeing 767, loaded with Amazon packages, overshot the end of the runway on Sept. 6 and struck a van carrying workers from a plane‑cleaning company.
Investigation underway
The National Transportation Safety Board will examine pilot actions, air‑traffic control communications, the aircraft’s maintenance history, airline practices, and the stormy weather that existed at the time. Flight data released on Sept. 9 showed one pilot warned the other that they were approaching too fast, and cockpit recordings captured automated speed‑and‑descent warnings.
Amazon’s response
“After the tragic incident last weekend, we have supported the investigation and reviewed the surrounding circumstances, and we have decided to pause our operations with 21 Air, the operator of Flight 7598,” Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said. “We will continue working to support the investigation and everyone affected.”
21 Air’s statement
21 Air, which has flown Amazon packages since 2024, expressed confidence in its safety policies, procedures and training while pledging to cooperate fully with the NTSB and to support the families of the victims.
Background on the aircraft
The 32‑year‑old Boeing 767 was originally built for passenger service and spent more than two decades with foreign airlines before being converted to a cargo plane in 2015, according to flight‑tracking site Flightradar24.
The incident underscores the importance of rigorous safety oversight in the growing e‑commerce logistics sector, a priority both Amazon and its partners have emphasized in recent years.
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
