Amazon pauses flights with 21 Air following fatal cargo plane crash in Miami
Amazon has halted all cargo operations with contractor 21 Air after a Boeing plane overran a runway at Miami International Airport on 6 September, killing five people on the ground.
Operational suspension
Amazon.com Inc. decided on 13 September 2026 to halt all cargo flight operations with contractor 21 Air LLC following a fatal aviation accident in Florida. The e-commerce company issued formal notification of the operational pause directly to the executive leadership of 21 Air on Sunday. The contracted carrier had been flying dedicated routes for the Amazon Prime Air logistics network using Amazon-branded cargo planes. Amazon took the step after conducting an internal review into operating standards and the surrounding circumstances of the flight. The decision suspends active flights conducted by 21 Air across Amazon's domestic freight network while official reviews remain underway. Company officials did not provide a date for any potential resumption of service with the carrier.
An Amazon spokesperson described the evaluation process in a statement on Sunday:
After the tragic incident last weekend, we've spent time supporting the investigation and reviewing some of the surrounding circumstances, and we've decided to pause our operations with 21 Air.
The runway collision in Miami
The operational suspension follows a fatal crash that took place on 6 September 2026 at Miami International Airport. An Amazon Prime Air cargo flight operated by 21 Air attempted to complete a landing at the South Florida airport facility. During the landing roll, the Boeing aircraft failed to stop on the pavement, overran the designated runway surface, and continued past the tarmac boundary. As it traveled off the runway, the cargo plane collided with multiple vehicles located in the perimeter area of the airport. Authorities confirmed that five people died as a direct result of the collision, with all five fatalities occurring among individuals on the ground. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft and the ground vehicles in its path.
- Amazon Prime Air cargo flight operated by 21 Air overruns runway in Miami, killing five people
- Amazon notifies 21 Air leadership that it is pausing all operations with the carrier
National Transportation Safety Board inquiry
The United States National Transportation Safety Board is directing the official safety investigation into the fatal runway overrun in Miami. Federal investigators are working to establish why the Boeing cargo jet was unable to stop within the parameters of the airport runway during the landing sequence. The federal inquiry encompasses a detailed review of flight data records, aircraft maintenance logs, pilot communications, and environmental conditions at the airport. Amazon confirmed that its teams have assisted investigators by supplying relevant operating data and supporting the official review process. The findings compiled by the safety board will form the basis of the official assessment regarding the crash.
Airline operations and ownership
The carrier involved in the accident, 21 Air LLC, is a cargo airline based in Miami that provides specialized transport operations for logistics firms. Following the runway collision, 21 Air stated that the airline was devastated by the accident and confirmed that it is cooperating with investigating authorities. The accident and Amazon's subsequent contract suspension have focused attention on the air carrier and its owner, Jim Crane. Crane is a prominent logistics magnate who is also the owner of the Houston Astros baseball franchise. The halt in Amazon operations deprives 21 Air of a primary commercial contract while federal investigators continue their work at Miami International Airport.
