Pilot Repeatedly Warned of Excessive Speed Before Deadly Amazon Cargo Plane Crash in Miami

Pilot Repeatedly Warned of Excessive Speed Before Deadly Amazon Cargo Plane Crash in Miami

Newly released flight data reveals that a pilot aboard an Amazon cargo plane repeatedly warned of excessive speed just moments before the aircraft overshot a runway, resulting in a catastrophic and fiery crash that killed five people at Miami International Airport. — MIAMI, United States, Sept. 13, 2026

According to a US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation update made available to Shemnews, cockpit recordings show one pilot issuing multiple warnings regarding the Boeing 767-300's speed throughout the final approach. Despite the critical alerts and sounding altitude alarms, investigators noted there was no "consistent verbal response" from the other pilot.

The aircraft, operating as Amazon Prime Air Flight 7598, ultimately touched down at 158 knots (292 km/h)—a speed aviation experts consider dangerously high. Key details surrounding the Sunday crash and the ongoing investigation include:

* Automated Safety Alerts: In the final minutes of the descent, the cockpit recorded severe electronic warnings, including "sink rate, sink rate," which indicates an overly rapid descent, and "too low terrain," alerting the crew that the plane was dangerously close to the ground without being properly configured for landing.

* Late Flap Deployment: Aviation attorney Pablo Rojas noted that the aircraft's flaps—which create drag to help slow the plane—were deployed much later in the accident sequence than is standard. Rojas suggested this late deployment was likely a desperate, last-minute reaction to the excessive speed during what he described as a "doomed approach."

* Ground Collision Sequence: Unable to halt on the tarmac, the jet overshot the runway, plowed through airport equipment, and struck a white Ford van. It then tore through a perimeter fence and collided with a Toyota Corolla before coming to rest approximately 1,300 feet (394 meters) beyond the runway, where it burst into flames.

* The Victims: The five fatalities were entirely comprised of an airport plane-cleaning crew seated inside the Ford van. Miami authorities have identified the victims as Rolando Aleman Leon, 55; Yoel Rodriguez Naranjo, 53; Julio C. Pineda, 75; Carlos Acosta Fajardo, 53; and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo, 47. Five other individuals sustained injuries in the disaster.

The NTSB continues to lead the multi-agency investigation into the exact cause of the communication breakdown and subsequent runway overrun.

By Brandon Drenon | Shemnews