Amazon has paused operations with cargo carrier 21 Air following last week’s crash of an Amazon Air flight at Miami International Airport that killed five people.
The company announced the decision Sunday after reviewing circumstances surrounding the Sept. 6 crash and supporting the investigation. Amazon did not say how long the suspension would last or how it might affect its cargo network.
Prime Air Flight 7598, operated by 21 Air for Amazon, overran a runway while landing in Miami and struck multiple vehicles on the ground. Five people were killed and five others were injured, according to officials.
The flight was arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was completing its third trip of the day. The aircraft had flown from Cincinnati to Miami and then from Miami to San Juan before beginning the return flight.
The plane was a 32-year-old Boeing 767-300 freighter. According to flight-tracking service Flightradar24, several airlines used it as a passenger aircraft from 1994 to 2015.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. Information recovered from the flight data recorder indicates that the pilots may have considered aborting the landing after the aircraft touched down.
Investigators also said one pilot warned that the plane was traveling too fast slightly more than a minute before landing. The aircraft ultimately overran the runway by about 1,300 feet. The NTSB has not determined the probable cause of the crash.
Amazon said it will continue assisting investigators and supporting those affected. The company operates Amazon Air as part of its package-delivery network but contracts with outside carriers, including 21 Air, to operate some flights.
21 Air said it remains focused on helping the victims’ families and cooperating with the NTSB, Amazon and other parties involved in the investigation. The carrier said it remains confident in its safety policies, procedures and training.
Source: Reuters