Amazon Miami cargo plane crash victims identified as five airport workers killed in van

MIAMI, FLORIDA: The five people killed when an Amazon cargo plane overshot a runway at Miami International Airport have been identified, with authorities confirming that all of them were inside a van carrying workers for an aircraft-cleaning company.

The victims were killed Sunday, September 6, when the Boeing 767 cargo aircraft operated by 21 Air for Amazon overran Runway 30 after landing and struck vehicles near the airport. The crash also injured five people, including the plane's two pilots, who have since been treated and released from the hospital.

Who were the victims of the Amazon cargo plane crash?

The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office identified the five people killed as Rolando Aleman Leon, 55; Yoel Rodriguez Naranjo, 53; Julio C. Pineda, 75; Carlos Acosta Fajardo, 53; and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo, 47.

All five were inside a Ford Econoline van owned by Professional Ocean Service Corp., a company that provides aircraft-cleaning services at Miami International Airport.

According to investigators, seven people were inside the van when the Amazon cargo plane crashed into it. The aircraft then broke through a perimeter fence and struck a Toyota Corolla Cross on Northwest 67th Avenue before coming to a stop. 

Professional Ocean Service Corp. expressed condolences for its employees and their families, describing its workers as “family” and saying they were deeply loved. The company said it would not comment further on the crash out of respect for those who died.

Amazon cargo plane crash leaves 3 people hospitalized

Five people were injured in the crash. The two pilots aboard the Boeing 767 were treated and later released from a Miami hospital.

Three other people remain hospitalized, with two listed in critical condition and one in stable condition, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office. The pilots were the only people aboard the cargo aircraft when it overran the runway. 

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash and has recovered the aircraft's flight data recorder. Investigators are examining several factors, including the aircraft's performance, weather conditions, flight crew actions and the airport's runway safety features.

The Boeing 767 was operated by 21 Air on behalf of Amazon and had arrived at Miami International Airport from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The 32-year-old aircraft was originally built as a passenger plane before being converted into a cargo aircraft in 2015.

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not determined what caused the aircraft to overrun the runway.