NTSB Details Pilot Warnings Before Fatal Amazon Cargo Plane Crash in Miami

MIAMI, United States — One of the pilots aboard an Amazon cargo aircraft repeatedly warned that the plane was travelling too fast as it approached a runway in Miami, according to preliminary information released by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

The flight information, released Wednesday, provides new details about the moments before the aircraft overran the runway, struck a vehicle carrying workers and subsequently caught fire.

According to a summary of cockpit voice recordings compiled by the NTSB, one pilot raised concerns about the aircraft's speed for nearly two minutes during the approach and after touchdown. The other pilot did not provide what investigators described as a consistent verbal response to the warnings.

The aircraft touched down in an unstable manner, briefly attempted to become airborne again and then continued beyond the runway before striking a van carrying workers from an aircraft-cleaning company.

Aircraft Overran Runway

The Amazon cargo plane landed Sunday afternoon amid strong winds and travelled approximately 396 metres beyond the end of the runway before colliding with the van.

The aircraft then struck a compact SUV as it continued across a public road before catching fire.

Five people inside the van were killed, while five others were injured. Two of the injured remained in critical condition as of Tuesday, according to authorities.

The two pilots survived the crash and were interviewed by investigators on Wednesday.

Flight Data Shows Unstable Approach

Flight data released late Tuesday indicated that the aircraft's approach was unsteady, with the plane experiencing difficulties as it descended toward the runway in strong winds.

The data also showed that the pilots briefly disengaged the aircraft's brakes and increased engine power, apparently attempting to take off again and make another landing attempt. The manoeuvre was abandoned approximately four seconds later.

The cockpit recordings also captured a series of automated warnings relating to the aircraft's descent speed and nearby terrain.

Former Federal Aviation Administration official Mike O'Donnell said the warnings and flight data indicated that the crew had several opportunities to respond before the situation became critical.

He said possible actions could have included using the aircraft's spoilers, reducing engine power, lowering the landing gear or abandoning the landing and performing a go-around.

Late Touchdown Reduced Stopping Distance

Investigators are also examining where and how the aircraft touched down.

The plane's right and nose landing gear made contact with the runway well beyond the normal touchdown area, leaving less runway available for the aircraft to slow down.

The runway involved is approximately 9,360 feet long. Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 estimated, based on NTSB data, that the aircraft was nearly halfway down the runway when it first touched down.

Strong winds associated with storms moving through the area may also have contributed to the aircraft's forward speed, with investigators examining whether a tailwind played a role.

Investigation Continues

The NTSB has not yet released the complete cockpit voice recording transcript. The full conversation is expected to be made public later as the investigation progresses.

Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft's configuration, approach speed, braking, wind conditions, crew decisions and the decision to briefly attempt another takeoff after touchdown.

The investigation remains ongoing, and the released flight and cockpit information represents an early stage of the process rather than a final determination of the cause of the crash.