Amazon has announced it is suspending its partnership with 21 Air following a catastrophic cargo plane crash in Miami earlier this month. A company spokesperson confirmed on Sunday that the decision to pause operations came after a review of the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. While emphasizing that safety remains a top priority for both internal operations and third party partnerships, Amazon stated it will continue to support the ongoing federal investigation and those impacted by the event.
The incident occurred on September 6 when a Boeing 767-300 cargo plane, operating on behalf of Amazon from San Juan, Puerto Rico, overshot the runway at Miami International Airport. The aircraft plowed into several vehicles before finally coming to a halt, resulting in five deaths and leaving five other people injured. Local authorities have since identified the victims, ranging in age from 47 to 75. NTSB chairwoman Jennifer Homendy described the wreckage as a scene of utter devastation.
Preliminary findings from the National Transportation Safety Board suggest critical failures in the cockpit during the final moments of the flight. Investigators revealed that one pilot repeatedly warned another about the aircraft’s excessive speed as they approached the runway, yet these warnings reportedly went without a consistent verbal response despite sounding altitude alarms and other electronic danger alerts. Flight recorders have been recovered and are currently being analyzed to determine exactly why the crew failed to decelerate.
In response to the disaster, 21 Air chief executive Keith Winters expressed his devastation and offered deep condolences to the grieving families. He stated that the company is fully cooperating with aviation authorities to ensure accurate information is released as it becomes available. As an all-cargo carrier providing services for giants like Amazon and DHL, 21 Air now faces intense scrutiny regarding its safety protocols while federal investigators piece together the sequence of events that led to the crash.