Federal Investigation Underway after Fatal Amazon Cargo Plane Crash in Miami

Federal investigators are in South Florida to uncover the cause of a tragic event at Miami International Airport involving an Amazon cargo plane. The crash, which occurred on Sunday afternoon, has left witnesses sharing their harrowing observations.

Witness Accounts

Grace Mercado recounted her experience while in a car with her partner. She described hearing a noise before he remarked, “Oh my goodness. Is that a plane crash?” Glancing up from her phone, she saw the plane had overshot the runway, crossed a Miami-Dade street, and halted.

“It was extremely loud,” Mercado stated. “The sound was unlike anything I’d ever heard. It was like a shake.” She expressed her disorientation as she tried to comprehend the scene. “The plane was up in smoke. It was like something from a movie. It was crazy,” she shared.

A photograph captured by Joe Raedle/Getty Images shows the Amazon cargo plane post-crash at Miami International Airport on September 6, 2026.

Emergency Response

Initially, no first responders were on site, noted Mercado. However, their swift response changed that scene quickly. “They ended up there in under a minute. It was absolutely insane,” she recounted.

According to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR), over 60 units and about 200 personnel attended the crash site. First responders managed to arrive within seconds. Tragically, five fatalities and five injuries were reported.

“Our hearts are with the victims and their families following (Sunday’s) tragic cargo plane crash,” stated Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and are keeping everyone who was injured in our thoughts and prayers.”

Mercado observed that after the crash, substantial smoke was evident, but saw no movement near the wreckage. “It’s something you don’t see in real life,” she explained. “So, it’s surreal.”

Ongoing Investigation

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are to investigate why the aircraft veered off the runway and crashed. The victims’ identities have yet to be disclosed.