Miami, Fla. – A truck driver who was loading cargo near Miami International Airport (MIA) on Sunday afternoon described the crash of an Amazon cargo plane as a “horrific, traumatizing experience.” Romierkys Rodriguez, who was working at a nearby yard when the aircraft veered off the runway around 2 p.m., said he heard a massive boom, felt the ground shake, and saw flames and smoke rise just feet away.
Details of the crash
According to airport officials, the Boeing 767‑300F had arrived from San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it overshot the runway and struck several vehicles parked near the perimeter road. The impact caused a fireball that engulfed the plane’s tail section and sent debris scattering across the tarmac.
Five people were killed in the incident and another five were injured. Two of the injured remain in critical condition, while the others are listed as having non‑life‑threatening injuries. Authorities have not released the identities of the victims or clarified whether the fatalities occurred among the crew, passengers, or people in the vehicles that were struck.
Eyewitness accounts
Rodriguez recounted the moment the plane went down: “We could see a plane just coming down and hear the explosion. You could feel the shake, see the smoke, the flames… it felt like it was only a couple of feet away from us.” He added that the scene was chaotic, with smoke filling the area and sirens wailing shortly after the crash.
Virginia Gardens Mayor Spencer Deno, who lives nearby, said he felt the shockwave in his home. “It was a little different than thunder and lightning. My house shook, and I asked my wife if she felt it. She thought it was a storm, but I knew it was something else,” Deno said. He drove to the perimeter road and saw the tail of the aircraft still protruding from the wreckage, with white smoke rising from the site.
Official response
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have opened investigations into the cause of the crash. Preliminary statements indicate that the pilot and co‑pilot were trapped in the cockpit, and some occupants of the ground vehicles were also trapped.
“We are working closely with emergency responders and investigators to determine the exact sequence of events that led to this tragedy,” an FAA spokesperson said. “Our priority is to ensure the safety of all personnel on the airport grounds and to provide assistance to the families affected.”
Community impact
The crash has raised concerns among local residents and businesses that operate near the airport. Many expressed fear that a similar incident could happen again, especially given the proximity of residential neighborhoods to the airport’s perimeter roads.
Mayor Deno urged officials to review safety protocols and consider additional barriers or warning systems to protect nearby communities. “We need to make sure that our neighborhoods are safe and that we have the proper safeguards in place to prevent future accidents,” he said.
Local emergency services responded quickly, deploying fire trucks, ambulances, and hazardous‑materials teams to contain the blaze and treat the injured. The airport remained partially closed for several hours while investigators secured the crash site and cleared debris.
What’s next?
The FAA and NTSB will release a full report once the investigation is complete, which could take several months. In the meantime, airport officials have promised to keep the public informed about any new findings and to work with community leaders to address safety concerns.
Residents who witnessed the crash or have information that may aid the investigation are encouraged to contact the Miami-Dade Police Department’s aviation unit.
Original reporting: NBC6 Miami — read the source article.
