Authorities identified on Tuesday the five people who died when a plane went off the runway at Miami International Airport. Three other people remain hospitalized, including two in critical condition, reported Miami-Dade Police Chief Rosie Cordero-Stutz.
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The accident occurred on Sunday afternoon, when an Amazon cargo plane went off the runway upon landing. The aircraft traveled about 400 meters beyond the runway, over green areas, hit a van carrying seven workers, went through chain-link fences, and crossed an avenue where it hit a car.
The five deceased were in the minivan and have been identified as Rolando Alemán León, 55; Joel Rodríguez Naranjo, 53; Julio C. Pineda, 75; Carlos Acosta Fajardo, 53; and Javierquis Reyes Quevedo, 47, Cordero-Stutz reported at a press conference on Tuesday. The other two passengers remain hospitalized, as does the driver of the Toyota.
Cordero-Stutz said the two pilots were treated and released.
“It is an incredibly tragic incident. You leave your home to go to work, visit your family, or do what we normally do, never thinking something like this could happen,” said Cordero-Stutz. “Unfortunately, now it is up to us to pick up the pieces and try to determine what happened and how it occurred. But those families will carry this with them for the rest of their lives. It is a very difficult moment.”
The minivan passengers were employees of the cleaning company Professional Ocean Service Corp. The company said in a statement that they are “devastated by this unimaginable tragedy.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with every employee and every family whose lives have been changed forever. We share the pain of those who lost a loved one and pray for the recovery of those injured.” It also said that “out of respect for the families and the ongoing investigation, we will not make further comments on the circumstances of the accident. Our focus remains where it should be: on their families and ensuring they receive the care and support they need. We ask everyone to keep them in their thoughts and prayers and to respect their privacy during this extremely difficult time.”
The pilots have been identified as Jaime Felipe Silva Molina, 37, and Joseph Carol, 55.
The plane, a Boeing 767-300, was returning to Miami from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Around 2:00 p.m., upon landing, the plane went off the runway, hit airport navigation equipment, and passed over a grassy area. Still inside the airport, it collided with the minivan and then went through the airport perimeter chain-link fence, crossed Northwest 67th Avenue (NW 67th Ave), and hit a vehicle traveling on that road. It then hit another fence, crossed more green areas, and finally stopped next to a Tesla vehicle parking lot near some warehouses, where it caught fire.
Images and videos showed thick columns of black smoke coming from the aircraft after the accident, which remained in one piece, while dozens of fire teams rescued the pilots and contained the flames.
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At a press conference on Monday, Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the federal agency that investigates air accidents, said that at the crash site there were remains and pieces of vehicles, the plane, and “fences everywhere.”
“On the paved surface, tire marks can be seen continuing through the grass. There are remains everywhere. The Econoline van was destroyed. It must have been devastating. There is also the other vehicle, the SUV: airbags can be seen deployed around it. There are components from the vehicles, both cars and the plane itself, and also parts of the navigation aids. There are airport remains and, of course, fence fragments everywhere. The affected area is quite extensive.”
“I would describe it in one word: devastating, an absolute devastation,” said Homendy.
The NTSB has already recovered the data equipment and sent it to its laboratory in Washington for analysis. It expects to have more information in the coming hours, Homendy said. The agency will investigate weather conditions as well as the mechanical condition of the plane’s systems. Homendy added they are seeking to determine why the pilots did not abort the landing and take off again.
The Miami-Dade Police Chief said on Tuesday that the Homicide Department is investigating the deaths.
Amazon offered condolences to the families of the deceased and those affected in a series of statements. The most recent, published this Tuesday, the company said: “Our deepest condolences remain with the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating tragedy. The NTSB is at Miami International Airport conducting its investigation. We will fully cooperate with the agency and support any other authority involved in the investigation. We will also continue coordinating with 21 Air, the company operating the flight. Amazon executives are also meeting with local authorities, first responders, and other community members to offer our support.”
In a statement on its website, 21 Air expressed condolences to the victims’ families and assured it is cooperating with the NTSB, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and local authorities. The company’s director, Keith Winters, said the accident has left the company “devastated.”
