Published on : 08 Sep 2026
🚨 FIVE PEOPLE ARE DEAD. THE NTSB IS ON SITE. TWO OF MIAMI’S FOUR RUNWAYS REMAIN CLOSED. DELAYS AND CANCELLATIONS ARE CONTINUING TODAY — TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 8.
One of the most catastrophic single incidents at a major US airport in recent years unfolded at Miami International Airport at approximately 1:58 PM Eastern Time on Sunday September 6, 2026, when Amazon Prime Air Flight 7598 — a 32-year-old Boeing 767-300 freighter operated on behalf of Amazon by 21 Air — overshot runway 30 at approximately 130 miles per hour, left the usable portion of the runway, crashed into several vehicles parked at the northwest end of the airport, and burst into flames. At least five people were killed and five others were injured. The names of those killed have not yet been officially confirmed as of publication — the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s office said it was in the process of confirming the identities of those who died. More than 60 units arrived to find an airplane that had caught on fire as a result of this crash, with heavy flames and smoke. Responders said the pilots had been removed from the plane and were being treated.
The crash triggered a full ground stop — all four of Miami International Airport’s runways were closed immediately as emergency services rushed to the scene. The ground stop lasted approximately three hours. One runway reopened at around 4:15 PM, a second approximately 30 minutes later. But with two of MIA’s four runways still closed, the airport is now operating at half its normal runway capacity — and the cascading consequences for passengers have been immediate and severe. More than 450 flights in and out of the airport were delayed or cancelled as of Sunday night. On Monday September 7, 129 domestic flights arriving or departing from MIA were delayed and 65 were cancelled. FAA data recorded a 317-minute ground delay at Miami — over five hours — making it one of the most severe FAA ground programs recorded at any major US airport in 2026. Nationally, 2,559 delays and 170 cancellations struck the United States on September 7.
The National Transportation Safety Board arrived at Miami International Airport on Monday to begin its formal investigation into the cause of the crash. American Airlines — Miami International’s largest carrier — has issued travel waivers waiving change fees for all passengers with flights to, from, or through MIA. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has advised travelers to anticipate significant delays and potential flight cancellations. The airport itself has issued a public notice: “Because of aircraft and flight crews not arriving at MIA due to the cancellations yesterday, we will continue to see impacts to operations throughout the day. Passengers with flights scheduled today should check directly with their airline for flight status updates before heading to the airport.”
Today — Tuesday September 8 — the disruption is continuing. Five people have died. The NTSB investigation has begun. Two runways are closed. And tens of thousands of passengers still have unanswered questions about their rights. This article tells you everything.
Published: September 8, 2026 — Tuesday Incident: Amazon Prime Air Flight 7598 — Boeing 767-300 freighter operated by 21 Air for Amazon Date and Time: Sunday September 6, 2026 — approximately 1:58 PM ET Route: Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) → Miami International Airport (MIA) Aircraft: Boeing 767-300 freighter — 32 years old — registration not confirmed in sources Speed at Runway Departure: Approximately 130 mph — left usable portion of runway 30 at 130 mph Runway: Runway 30 — 9,000+ feet long — MIA What Happened: Aircraft overran runway 30, left the pavement, crashed into vehicles at northwest end of airport, caught fire Emergency Declaration: Pilots did NOT declare an emergency before landing, per CNN review of air traffic control audio Fatalities: At least 5 people killed Injuries: At least 5 others injured Emergency Response: 60+ units responded — Miami-Dade Fire Rescue | Heavy flames and smoke confirmed Runways Closed: All four runways closed immediately after crash Runways Reopened: Runway 1 reopened ~4:15 PM Sunday | Runway 2 reopened ~30 min later Runways Still Closed (today): 2 of 4 runways remain closed — airport operating at half capacity Sunday Night Impact: 450+ flights delayed or cancelled at MIA Monday FAA Ground Delay: 317 minutes (over 5 hours) — one of the most severe at any major US airport in 2026 Monday MIA Delays: 129 domestic flight delays + 65 cancellations (FlightAware) More than 230 flights into and out of MIA delayed as of Monday afternoon (FlightAware/NPR) National Total (Sept 7): 2,559 delays + 170 cancellations Worst Carriers: Southwest 500+ delays | American Airlines 500+ delays nationally NTSB: On site Monday September 7 — formal investigation begun Investigation: NTSB + FAA joint — cause not yet officially declared Amazon Statement: “Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss. We’re working closely with local authorities and officials to learn more and will cooperate fully with any investigation.” — Kelly Nantel, Amazon spokesperson American Airlines Waiver: Change fees waived — flights to/from/through MIA Today (Tuesday September 8): Delays and cancellations continuing — airport at half runway capacity
Editor’s note: This is a fatal aviation incident involving the loss of human life. Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those killed. This article focuses on passenger safety, rights, and operational impact — not the victims personally.
Amazon Prime Air Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-300 freighter, departed from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on a standard cargo operation bound for Miami International Airport. It was a routine cargo service — one of thousands that Amazon’s contracted air freight network operates daily, feeding the company’s one-day and two-day delivery infrastructure across the United States.
The aircraft was a 32-year-old Boeing 767-300. At approximately 1:58 PM ET on Sunday September 6, Flight 7598 was on final approach to runway 30 at Miami International — a runway more than 9,000 feet long and one of the primary instrument approach runways at MIA. According to data from flight tracking site Flightradar24, the plane had a speed of nearly 130 mph when it left the usable portion of the diagonal runway.
A review of air traffic control audio by CNN shows the pilots did not declare an emergency before the landing.
The aircraft overran runway 30, left the pavement, and crashed into several vehicles parked at the northwest end of the airport. The crash left at least five people dead and five others injured, and led to a roughly three-hour ground stop, forcing officials to close all four runways at the South Florida airport.
More than 60 “units arrived to find an airplane that had caught on fire as a result of this crash, with heavy flames and smoke showing,” an X post from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue confirmed. “Guys, the plane’s on fire. Plane’s on fire. Put your game faces on,” a first responder said in dispatch audio obtained by Broadcastify.
MIA is not equipped with arresting systems that the FAA says have been installed at more than 120 airports nationwide to safely stop planes that do go past the end of a runway. “It prevents the airplane from leaving the airport premises,” an official said. “It’s a soft concrete that is after the runway and if the airplane gets into that area, it becomes like mud and stops the airplane from continuing moving forward.”
This infrastructure detail is central to the NTSB investigation. EMAS (Engineered Materials Arresting System) — the soft concrete bed described above — is designed specifically to stop aircraft that overrun runways before they reach airport boundaries, vehicles, or infrastructure. Miami International Airport does not have this system on runway 30. Whether its presence would have prevented Sunday’s catastrophe is a matter for the NTSB to determine — but it will almost certainly be a focus of the formal investigation.
Inspection crews reported there were no aircraft parts or debris found on the runway, but the plane damaged navigational equipment when it left the pavement. This navigational equipment damage is part of why two of MIA’s four runways remain closed today — the instrument landing systems and associated equipment need to be inspected and certified before those runways can reopen.
Within minutes of the crash, Miami International Airport declared a full ground stop — all four runways closed simultaneously. An airport official said one of MIA’s four runways reopened around 4:15 p.m., and a second was opened around 30 minutes later.
But reopening two runways at an airport that normally operates four does not restore normal operations. Miami International is one of the busiest international airports in the United States — the primary gateway for Caribbean, Latin American, and South American travel from the eastern US. With half its runway capacity, the airport can accommodate approximately half its normal hourly movements. Every aircraft scheduled to land or depart at MIA on Sunday afternoon from 2:00 PM onward was affected — held in stacks, diverted, or cancelled.
More than 450 flights in and out of the airport were delayed or canceled as of Sunday night, according to FlightAware, as the crash prompted a roughly 3-hour ground stop. Flights are expected to be delayed into Monday due to the disabled aircraft on the runway.
FAA data recorded a 317-minute average ground delay at Miami International Airport on Monday September 7 — over five hours. A 317-minute average ground delay is among the most severe FAA traffic management programs recorded at any major US airport in 2026. To understand what this means in practice: an aircraft scheduled to arrive at MIA at 10:00 AM on Monday was, on average, arriving at 3:17 PM. Every arriving aircraft’s delay cascades into the departure of its next rotation. Every delay cascades through the next three or four rotations of that aircraft through the day.
The airport said: “Because of aircraft and flight crews not arriving at MIA due to the cancellations yesterday, we will continue to see impacts to operations throughout the day. Passengers with flights scheduled today should check directly with their airline for flight status updates before heading to the airport.”
More than 230 flights into and out of Miami International Airport were delayed as of Monday afternoon, according to FlightAware. More than 70 flights were cancelled as of Monday afternoon.
According to FlightAware, 129 domestic flights arriving or departing from MIA were delayed and 65 were cancelled. Airport officials confirmed that two of the airport’s four runways are currently open.
Members of the National Transportation Safety Board arrived at Miami International Airport on Monday to begin their investigation into what caused an Amazon cargo plane to overshoot a runway and slam into several vehicles before coming to a stop and bursting into flames on Sunday. The NTSB held a news conference on Monday afternoon to provide more information.
The NTSB is the US federal agency responsible for investigating all civil aviation accidents. Its investigations are independent, methodologically rigorous, and typically take 12–18 months to produce a final report. In the immediate term, the NTSB will focus on: flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder analysis; aircraft maintenance records; pilot training and qualification records; approach and landing data from air traffic control; the condition of runway 30 and associated infrastructure; weather conditions at time of landing; and the question of why no emergency was declared before landing.
Two of MIA’s four runways have since been reopened, and the ground stop was lifted, but impacts for travelers remain and are likely going to continue for the next day or two.
| Airport | Code | Delays | Cancellations | FAA Program | Primary Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami International | MIA | 230+ | 70+ (Monday) | Ground delay — 317 minutes avg | Amazon cargo crash — 2 runways closed |
| Boston Logan | BOS | 208 | 9 | Ground delay — 44 min avg | Active runway construction |
| Los Angeles International | LAX | 154 | 5 | — | Post-Labor Day congestion |
| San Diego International | SAN | 148 | 3 | Ground delay — 49 min avg | Airport volume |
| Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson | ATL | 142 | Multiple | — | Convective weather + congestion |
| San Francisco International | SFO | 118 | 6 | Departure delay — 15 min avg | Runway construction — ongoing |
| Fort Lauderdale | FLL | Elevated | Multiple | Traffic management | Demand + MIA overflow |
| Seattle-Tacoma | SEA | Elevated | Multiple | Traffic management | Weather + demand |
| Houston Bush | IAH | Elevated | Multiple | — | Post-Edouard residual |
| 🇺🇸 National Total | — | 2,559 | 170 | — |
American Airlines has issued travel waivers for all Miami travel — the most comprehensive and operationally important action:
American Airlines said it was waiving change fees for travelers with flights to, from, or through MIA and posted more details on its website.
| Carrier | National Delays | MIA Specific | Waiver Issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 500+ | Primary MIA carrier | ✅ YES — MIA waiver active |
| Southwest Airlines | 500+ | Secondary MIA presence | Check southwest.com |
| Delta Air Lines | Elevated | Significant MIA hub | Check delta.com |
| United Airlines | Elevated | MIA limited presence | Check united.com |
| Alaska Airlines | Elevated | MIA secondary routes | Check alaskaair.com |
| JetBlue | Elevated | Fort Lauderdale primary — MIA secondary | Check jetblue.com |
| Spirit Airlines | Elevated | Fort Lauderdale Hub — MIA overflow impact | Check spirit.com |
Two of MIA’s four runways have since been reopened, and the ground stop was lifted, but impacts for travelers remain and are likely going to continue for the next day or two.
Two runways are still closed. This is not a quick fix. Runway inspections after a fatal accident require NTSB clearance before any surface work, equipment removal, or runway reopening can proceed. The NTSB investigation scene at the northwest end of the airport must be preserved for evidence collection. Until the NTSB clears the area and certifies that runway equipment is functioning correctly, the two affected runways stay closed. The airport is operating at half runway capacity and will be for an indeterminate period.
Practical consequences for passengers today:
Every flight into or out of MIA today operates under elevated delay risk compared to a normal Tuesday. The morning departure banks are already running behind from aircraft and crew positioning failures that originated Sunday and were not fully resolved Monday. FlightAware data shows MIA is one of the most delay-concentrated airports in the US today. If you have a MIA flight today, treat it as delayed until your airline’s app confirms on-time status.
Fort Lauderdale (FLL) as alternative: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, 30 miles north of MIA, is not affected by the cargo crash. Spirit Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest, and Frontier all operate Fort Lauderdale flights. If your MIA connection is missing critical, consider whether Fort Lauderdale can serve your origin or destination.
We recognise that this incident has resulted in the deaths of at least five people. These are human lives, not statistics. The rights discussion below is practical guidance for the tens of thousands of passengers affected by the operational disruption — it is presented with full awareness that the families of those who died are facing something incomparably more serious.
The DOT’s April 2024 Automatic Refund Rule applies to every cancelled flight at Miami International Airport as a result of this incident, regardless of the cause:
| Situation | Your Right |
|---|---|
| Flight cancelled — any cause including airport emergency | Full cash refund to original payment method — mandatory, automatic |
| Domestic flight delayed 3+ hours and you choose not to travel | Full cash refund right activated |
| International flight delayed 6+ hours and you choose not to travel | Full cash refund right activated |
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy advised travelers to anticipate significant delays and potential flight cancellations.
The exact phrase for any airline desk, phone call, or online portal: “My flight [number] was cancelled/significantly delayed as a result of the Miami airport runway closure following the September 6 cargo plane crash. Under the DOT’s April 2024 Automatic Refund Rule, I am requesting a full cash refund to my original payment method. I do not accept a travel credit or eCredit as a substitute.”
Airlines cannot force you to accept a travel voucher for a cancelled flight. They may offer one — decline it and insist on the cash refund. If you choose to rebook on a later flight, that is your choice — but it does not waive your compensation rights for the original cancellation.
American Airlines said it was waiving change fees for travelers with flights to, from, or through MIA.
This waiver means American Airlines passengers whose MIA-connected travel has been disrupted can rebook onto alternative American Airlines flights at no extra cost — same cabin, same origin and destination cities, within the waiver travel window. Check aa.com/travelalerts for current waiver terms and expiry dates.
✅ American Airlines waiver: aa.com/travelalerts ✅ American phone: 1-800-433-7300 ✅ American app: fastest rebooking — processes in under 5 minutes during disruption
Even when the cause of a cancellation or delay is an extraordinary external event (like a fatal accident at an airport), airlines’ own customer service commitments require:
| Right | Southwest | American | Delta | United | JetBlue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meal vouchers | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Hotel (extraordinary circumstance) | ✅ Southwest provides even for extraordinary events | ⚠️ Discretionary | ⚠️ Discretionary | ⚠️ Discretionary | ✅ JetBlue provides |
| Free rebooking | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Southwest Airlines and JetBlue are the most generous on weather/extraordinary circumstance hotel accommodation. If you are stranded overnight in Miami or at a diversion airport because of the MIA disruption, ask your carrier explicitly for hotel accommodation. Southwest and JetBlue will typically provide it.
If you are at Fort Lauderdale Airport because of MIA disruption — either because your airline rerouted you or because you independently chose FLL as an alternative — your rights depend on how the change was made:
✅ If your airline rerouted you to FLL: You are entitled to reasonable ground transportation from FLL to your original MIA destination at the airline’s expense ✅ If you independently chose FLL: You bear the transport cost — but keep your receipts and submit to your airline’s customer service — they may reimburse as a goodwill gesture
Ground transport FLL → MIA: approximately 40–50 minutes by Uber or taxi | approximately $35–55 one way.
Step 1 — Do not go to Miami airport without checking your flight status first Miami International Airport officials urged passengers traveling to or from the facility to get in touch with their airline directly regarding flight status before heading to the airport in case of a delay or cancellation. Check: your airline’s app → fly.faa.gov → flightaware.com
Step 2 — Use American Airlines’ active waiver immediately if on AA The American Airlines MIA waiver is live now. Use it today — waivers have expiry dates. Rebook via aa.com/travelalerts or the American Airlines app (fastest) before all alternative seats are taken by other displaced passengers.
Step 3 — If stranded at MIA: demand meal vouchers from the 2-hour mark Walk to any American Airlines, Southwest, or Delta desk and say: “My flight has been significantly delayed/cancelled due to the MIA runway closure. I am requesting meal vouchers.” Keep every receipt from the moment of disruption.
Step 4 — Consider Fort Lauderdale for departing flights FLL is operating normally. Spirit, JetBlue, Southwest, and Frontier all have FLL departures. If your MIA departure is cancelled and there is no good AA rebooking option, consider an FLL alternative flight and ground transport between airports.
Step 5 — If your flight is cancelled: demand cash, not a voucher The DOT April 2024 rule is unconditional. Airlines will offer eCredits first — decline them. Say: “I am requesting a cash refund to my original payment method under the DOT’s April 2024 Automatic Refund Rule.”
Step 6 — If stranded overnight: ask immediately for hotel Do not wait until midnight. As soon as your flight is cancelled for the day, approach the customer service desk. Southwest and JetBlue will provide hotel accommodation. American, Delta, and United may do so at their discretion — ask explicitly.
| Resource | Contact / Link |
|---|---|
| Miami International Airport Live | miami-airport.com |
| FAA Ground Stop Status | fly.faa.gov |
| FlightAware MIA | flightaware.com |
| American Airlines Waiver | aa.com/travelalerts |
| American Airlines Phone | 1-800-433-7300 |
| American Airlines App | American Airlines app |
| Southwest Airlines | southwest.com |
| Delta Air Lines | delta.com |
| United Airlines | united.com |
| JetBlue | jetblue.com |
| Spirit Airlines | spirit.com |
| NTSB (investigation updates) | ntsb.gov |
| Miami-Dade Sheriff (family info) | miamidade.gov/police |
| DOT Consumer Protection | airconsumer.dot.gov |
| Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) | fll.net |
Five people are dead. The NTSB is investigating. Two of Miami International Airport’s four runways remain closed. And the operational cascade from Sunday’s fatal Amazon cargo plane crash is continuing into Tuesday September 8.
21 Air Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-300 freighter operating on behalf of Amazon, crashed into several vehicles shortly before 2 PM on Sunday. The plane had a speed of nearly 130 mph when it left the usable portion of the diagonal runway. The pilots did not declare an emergency before landing. All four runways were closed. 450+ flights were disrupted Sunday night. A 317-minute FAA ground delay — over five hours — grounded Miami on Monday. 2,559 delays and 170 cancellations struck the US on September 7. Today, Tuesday September 8, the disruption continues.
Impacts for travelers remain and are likely going to continue for the next day or two.
The six things every affected Miami passenger must do:
For More Resources:
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Posted By : Vinay
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