MIAMI: At least five people were killed after an Amazon cargo aircraft careered off a runway at Miami International Airport and struck vehicles, triggering a major emergency response.
The aircraft crashed while attempting to take off, leaving wreckage and debris scattered beyond the runway area as firefighters and rescue crews rushed to the scene.
Authorities confirmed at least five fatalities, while investigators began examining the circumstances that caused the aircraft to leave the runway.
Emergency personnel searched the crash area and surrounding vehicles for additional victims as airport authorities worked to assess the impact on operations.
The aircraft had been operating as a cargo service for Amazon when the accident occurred.
Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft’s condition, flight data, weather and runway conditions as they seek to determine the cause of the crash. Authorities had not immediately announced a definitive cause.
The accident is likely to prompt scrutiny from US aviation regulators as investigators reconstruct the final moments before the aircraft left the runway.