Amazon announced on Sunday that it is suspending its partnership with cargo carrier 21 Air following a devastating crash in Miami earlier this month that claimed five lives. The decision comes after the e-commerce giant conducted a review of the circumstances surrounding the accident while cooperating with an ongoing investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. An Amazon spokesperson stated that the company has decided to pause operations with the operator of Flight 7598, though they did not specify exactly what findings led to the suspension.
The tragedy occurred on September 6 when a 21 Air Boeing 767-300 arrived from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and overran Runway 30 at Miami International Airport. The aircraft struck two vehicles, including a van transporting airline cleaning staff, resulting in the deaths of five people on the ground. Authorities identified the victims as Yoel Rodriguez Naranjo, Rolando Aleman Leon, Julio C. Pineda, Carlos Acosta Fajardo, and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo. Five other individuals were injured in the collision.
Preliminary data from the cockpit voice recorder suggests a breakdown in communication between pilots during the final moments of the flight. According to NTSB summaries, one pilot repeatedly warned that the aircraft was traveling too fast without receiving a consistent verbal response from their colleague. Investigators noted that although there appeared to be an attempted go-around maneuver shortly after touchdown, critical slowing mechanisms such as speed brakes and thrust reversers were never deployed. It remains unclear why these safety measures were not utilized.
While Amazon shifts its logistics needs to other partner carriers like Sun Country Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines to maintain its shipping schedule, 21 Air maintains its confidence in its internal safety protocols. In a statement released Sunday, the North Carolina-based company emphasized its focus on supporting those affected by the crash and expressed full cooperation with federal investigators. CEO Keith Winters previously extended his condolences to the families of those lost as officials work to determine precisely why the aircraft failed to stop safely on the runway.