21 Air defends safety record as NTSB probes Miami runway overrun
Amazon said Sunday it is suspending its cargo operations with 21 Air, the North Carolina-incorporated carrier that operated Flight 7598, which crashed after landing at Miami International Airport on Sept. 6 and killed five people.
“Safety has always been our top priority, whether in our operations or when we’re working with partners,” Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said in a statement. “After the tragic incident last weekend, we’ve spent time supporting the investigation and reviewing some of the surrounding circumstances, and we’ve decided to pause our operations with 21 Air, the operator of Flight 7598. We’ll continue working to support the investigation and everyone affected.”
The Sept. 6 crash killed five people and injured five others in the afternoon when the Boeing 767-33A struck two vehicles after overrunning Runway 30 at Miami International Airport, according to the NTSB. The flight had arrived from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and it was the plane’s third flight of the day.
The NTSB has recovered the plane’s black boxes and analyzed its flight data recorder, the agency said. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
In a statement to NBC News following Amazon’s announcement, 21 Air said it was focused on aiding those affected by the crash and working with federal investigators and Amazon amid the investigation. “We are confident in our safety policies, procedures and training,” the company said. 21 Air is incorporated in North Carolina.
Following the Sept. 6 crash, 21 Air CEO Keith Winter said the company was “devastated by the accident” and offered his “deepest condolences” to the families of those who died.
Amazon operates as an indirect air carrier, according to its website, arranging for direct air carrier partners — including ATI, ABX, 21 Air and Hawaiian Airlines — to transport its freight. The company did not say how long the suspension would last or whether the pause would affect other parts of its cargo network.