Amazon has halted all cargo flight operations with contractor 21 Air following a fatal landing accident at Miami International Airport that killed five ground workers, according to corporate statements and federal safety disclosures. The e-commerce giant’s decision comes as federal investigators examine flight recorder data revealing unheeded cockpit speed warnings and non-deployment of critical braking systems prior to the crash.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel confirmed the operational pause, explaining that the company reviewed the circumstances surrounding the Sept. 6 disaster while supporting the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in its ongoing inquiry. Amazon indicated it will immediately reassign its freight routes to alternative cargo partners within its Prime Air network, as reported by NBC News.
Carrier Shift and Fleet Allocation
The suspension directly affects North Carolina-incorporated 21 Air, a primary contractor operating Amazon-branded freighters and specializing in cargo transport between North America and Mexico. In a public response, 21 Air stated that its immediate focus remains on supporting affected families and maintaining full transparency with federal regulators and commercial partners.
“We are confident in our safety policies, procedures and training,” 21 Air stated, adding that leadership is working closely with the NTSB. In the aftermath of the crash, 21 Air Chief Executive Officer Keith Winters expressed deep condolences to victims’ families, emphasizing that the airline’s priority is assisting investigators and communicating factual updates as the probe unfolds.
To prevent disruption across its logistics network, Amazon plans to shift affected delivery volume to its other primary air carriers, which include Sun Country Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Air Transport International, ABX Air, ASL Airlines, and Cargojet. The company did not disclose the precise volume of freight reassigned or how long the suspension will remain in effect.
NTSB Findings Focus on Cockpit Warnings and Speed Controls
Flight 7598, an Amazon-branded Boeing 767-300 operated by 21 Air, was completing a regional flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it overran Runway 30 at Miami International Airport shortly before 2 p.m. ET on Sept. 6. Preliminary findings released by the NTSB point to unresolved operational friction inside the cockpit during the final landing approach.
Data extracted from the aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder (CVR) indicates that one pilot repeatedly warned that the plane was approaching the runway at excessive speed. However, the NTSB’s summary noted that there was no “consistent verbal response to the comments about speed” from the flying pilot.
Flight data recorder (FDR) records further demonstrate that approximately 15 seconds after touchdown, a pilot initiated a call for a go-around—a standard abort procedure in which power is applied to climb away from the runway for a secondary landing attempt. NTSB investigator in charge Chihoon Shin confirmed that engine thrust increased in line with a go-around attempt, but noted crucial control anomalies.
“The speed brakes and the thrust reversers were not deployed,” Shin stated during a technical briefing. Speed brakes are aerodynamic flight spoilers designed to disrupt wing lift and slow the aircraft on contact, while thrust reversers redirect engine airflow forward to decelerate the plane during roll-out. Federal investigators have not yet determined why neither system was activated prior to the go-around effort.
Ground Collisions and Casualties
The excessive landing speed and delayed deceleration caused the Boeing 767-300 to travel beyond the runway perimeter, striking two airfield service vehicles operating on adjacent airport grounds. One of the impacted vehicles was a van carrying personnel for an airport cleaning provider.
Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz confirmed that all five fatalities occurred on the ground among service workers. Authorities identified the deceased as Yoel Rodriguez Naranjo, 53; Rolando Aleman Leon, 55; Julio C. Pineda, 75; Carlos Acosta Fajardo, 53; and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo, 47. Five additional individuals on the ground suffered injuries of varying severity and received medical care.
The NTSB’s full investigation is expected to examine crew resource management, maintenance records, flight deck decision-making, and air traffic control transcripts before issuing its formal probable-cause determination.