Federal Investigation Underway After Fatal Cargo Plane Crash at Miami Airport

Federal investigators have arrived in South Florida to determine the cause of a fatal accident at Miami International Airport involving an Amazon cargo plane. The incident, which occurred on Sunday afternoon, has left eyewitnesses recounting their harrowing experiences.

Grace Mercado was traveling with her partner when they heard a loud noise. Her partner responded with concern, suspecting a plane crash. Mercado looked up from her cell phone and saw the Amazon cargo plane had overshot the runway. It plowed across a Miami-Dade street and came to a stop. “It was extremely loud,” Mercado described, noting the unprecedented sound and shaking.

It was like something from a movie, Mercado stated, describing the surreal scene with the plane engulfed in smoke. She witnessed the plane crash and subsequent chaos firsthand.

An image of the crashed Amazon cargo plane at Miami International Airport from September 6, 2026, was captured by Joe Raedle/Getty Images. Initially, first responders were not visible, but arrived swiftly. Mercado noted their presence was immediate, with ambulances and personnel reaching the scene in under a minute.

In total, more than 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units and approximately 200 personnel responded. Tragically, the crash resulted in five deaths, and injuries to five others. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue expressed condolences: “Our hearts are with the victims and their families following Sunday’s tragic cargo plane crash.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are tasked with investigating the incident to uncover why the aircraft left the runway. As of now, the identities of the victims have not been released.