Flight Recorder Data Indicates Crew Attempted to Abort Landing in Fatal Miami Amazon Cargo Plane Crash, Investigators Say

Federal investigators examining the fatal runway overrun of a cargo aircraft in Florida have determined that the flight crew appears to have attempted a late rejected landing after touching down on the tarmac. The preliminary findings, derived from the aircraft's onboard flight data recorder, offer the first technical timeline of the events preceding the deadly weekend accident at Miami International Airport.

The disaster occurred when a Boeing 767 freighter operated on behalf of Amazon Prime Air surged past the end of the runway by approximately 1,300 feet (396 meters). The runaway widebody jet plowed through airport grounds and struck two vehicles, resulting in five fatalities and leaving five additional individuals injured.

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy, who is directing an on-site team of 32 specialized investigators in Miami, detailed the initial telemetry retrieved from the recovered flight recorder. According to Homendy, the evidence points to a sequence of critical actions taken by the crew in the final seconds of the rollout as they grappled with the landing.

The data indicates that the aircraft’s initial contact with the runway was uneven and rapid. Exactly 30 seconds before the data recording ceased, the plane's nose landing gear and right main landing gear touched down on the pavement at a ground speed of 158 knots, or approximately 181 miles per hour.

The aircraft continued down the strip for another 11 seconds before the left main landing gear finally made contact with the runway surface. At that point, 19 seconds prior to the end of the recording, the jet's speed had decreased to 134 knots.

Moments after all gear assemblies were on the ground, the flight telemetry recorded a dramatic shift in control inputs. The crew released the wheel brakes and advanced the engine throttles forward to power settings typical of a go-around maneuver, suggesting an urgent effort to abort the landing rollout and climb back into the sky.

However, the attempt to become airborne again was quickly abandoned. Just 11 seconds before the recording stopped, the engine throttles were abruptly pulled back to idle power, and the flight crew reapplied the wheel brakes in a renewed effort to halt the heavy twin-engine jet before it ran out of paved surface.

By the time the data recorder stopped tracking, the Boeing 767 had decelerated to a final recorded ground speed of 65 knots. Despite the deceleration, the aircraft lacked sufficient stopping distance, hurtling beyond the runway threshold and crashing into the perimeter area where the vehicles were hit.

A critical finding highlighted by federal investigators is that the telemetry showed no record of key aerodynamic stopping mechanisms being utilized during the landing sequence. The data revealed no deployment of the aircraft’s speed brakes or the activation of its engine thrust reversers, both of which are standard systems relied upon to rapidly slow descending airliners upon touchdown.

The aircraft involved in the tragedy was a 32-year-old Boeing 767 operated by Miami-based charter carrier 21 Air. The company was flying the aircraft under contract to support Amazon's dedicated Prime Air logistics network.

The fatal landing was the plane's third flight segment of a busy multi-leg schedule on Sunday. The aircraft had initiated its operations earlier in the day by flying from Cincinnati to Miami, followed by a round-trip rotation that departed Miami for San Juan, Puerto Rico, before returning to Miami, where the crash occurred at 1:53 p.m. EDT (1753 GMT).

Federal safety officials also shared preliminary background details regarding the two airmen at the controls. The 55-year-old captain had accumulated 7,145 total hours of flight time throughout his aviation career and earned his type rating certification to fly the Boeing 767 earlier this year in May.

The first officer, aged 37, possessed 2,655 total flying hours and completed the type rating requirements for the Boeing 767 in April 2025. Both crew members survived the crash and represent a vital source of direct testimony for the ongoing federal probe.

Investigators are scheduled to conduct formal, in-depth interviews with both the captain and the first officer to understand the cockpit dynamics, situational awareness, and mechanical factors that influenced the decision-making process during the landing. Following those sessions, the safety board expects to publicize transcripts and details captured by the cockpit voice recorder.

The catastrophic accident severely disrupted operations at Miami International Airport, prompting the emergency closure of two runways while first responders and safety personnel secured the wreckage. Investigators made sufficient progress at the site late Tuesday to authorize the reopening of one of the closed runways, restoring eastbound departure capability as the comprehensive inquiry continues.