Sonali TiwaryA Boeing 767 cargo aircraft operated for Amazon Prime Air ran off a runway at Miami International Airport on September 6, killing five people on the ground. Investigators have now recovered both flight recorders, providing crucial data about what happened in the cockpit and throughout the aircraft systems.
The aircraft was 21 Air Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-33A cargo plane. It originated from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was destined for Miami. During landing, the aircraft left the runway, broke through the airport perimeter, and struck vehicles and infrastructure on the ground.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted successful recovery of both the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR). The CVR captured more than two hours of clear audio from the cockpit, providing direct evidence of what pilots were saying and doing during the landing sequence. The FDR contained approximately 54 hours of recorded data covering more than 400 different aircraft parameters—instrument readings, control inputs, and system status.
This data is preliminary. The NTSB emphasizes that all information recovered so far is subject to change as investigation proceeds. This is a critical point. Investigators have the raw data, but interpreting that data—understanding what it means about the sequence of events—takes time.
What the preliminary data shows: The cockpit received warnings about excessive speed as the aircraft approached the runway. The FDR contains records of these warnings and how pilots responded. One pilot cautioned they were too fast and additional comments concerned excessive speed. The FDR data shows a call for go-around, brakes released, throttles increased to go-around thrust, throttles then reduced to idle, brakes reapplied, and no indication that speed brakes or thrust reversers were deployed. The investigation will examine what happened during this sequence and why the aircraft left the runway.
One important thing to clarify: Having this data doesn’t mean investigators have determined the cause. It means they have evidence about what was happening. Determining cause requires analysis of that evidence combined with maintenance records, weather data, pilot training history, and other factors.
The investigation will examine whether the aircraft was properly maintained, whether pilots received adequate training, whether weather conditions affected operations, and what decisions were made during the landing sequence.
21 Air is a cargo charter company. Amazon Prime Air is Amazon’s logistics operation using contracted aircraft. The relationship between these entities and Amazon itself will likely be examined as the investigation proceeds, though the immediate focus is on understanding the technical factors related to the accident.
Five fatalities is significant and tragic. These were ground personnel struck when the aircraft left the runway. Their families and colleagues are seeking answers about how such an accident could occur. Previous runway incidents demonstrate the critical importance of runway safety protocols.
The NTSB investigation will take months. A preliminary report typically appears within 30 days, but determining probable cause takes longer. The agency will eventually publish a final report with findings and any recommendations for safety improvements across the aviation industry.
