Amazon halts 21 Air cargo operations after deadly Miami plane crash kills five

SentiSense · Published Sep 14, 2026, 8:20 AM ET · Updated Sep 28, 2026, 2:45 AM ET

Amazon announced it is suspending use of cargo carrier 21 Air after a 21 Air Boeing 767 overran a Miami runway on September 6, 2026, killing five people on the ground. The pause affects a segment of Amazon's air cargo network as the NTSB investigates the crash, including cockpit voice recorder evidence that pilots raised speed concerns before impact. The incident raises safety questions for Amazon's air freight operations and its future carrier partnerships.

Amazon confirmed it will stop working with cargo carrier 21 Air after a Boeing 767 operated by the airline overran a Miami runway, resulting in five fatalities on the ground. The company said the suspension applies to all operations with 21 Air, effectively pausing a key segment of its air cargo network while authorities investigate the cause of the accident.

The crash occurred on September 6, 2026, when Flight 7598, a 32‑year‑old Boeing 767‑300 freighter en route from San Juan, Puerto Rico, overran Runway 30 at Miami International Airport by roughly 1,300 feet and struck a vehicle on the ground. The incident has drawn heightened scrutiny to Amazon's reliance on third‑party air carriers for rapid delivery services. 21 Air, which began flying packages for Amazon in 2024, now faces a sudden loss of business from one of the world's largest e‑commerce platforms. The incident also underscores the operational risks inherent in scaling air freight capacity through smaller partners.

Industry observers note that Amazon's swift suspension mirrors similar actions taken by other logistics firms after high‑profile accidents, aiming to protect brand reputation and ensure safety. The move could disrupt Amazon's delivery timelines, especially in regions that depend on 21 Air's feeder routes, and may prompt the company to lean more heavily on other established carriers as it works to restore capacity.

Investigators, including the NTSB, are examining the cockpit voice recorder, which indicated pilots raised concerns about excessive speed with no consistent response and that a go‑around was attempted about 15 seconds after touchdown; speed brakes and thrust reversers reportedly were not deployed before impact. Amazon has said it will cooperate fully with the investigation. Stakeholders will be watching for any indications of broader safety issues within Amazon's air network and for how quickly the company can restore capacity, either by re‑qualifying 21 Air or by partnering with alternative carriers.