Fact Check: Did failed brakes cause the Amazon plane's Miami runway overrun?

MIAMI, FLORIDA: A claim about the cause of an Amazon cargo plane's runway overrun in Miami is circulating on social media. Several users are alleging that the aircraft's brakes or reverse thrust failed during the incident, raising questions about whether a mechanical problem caused the plane to lose its ability to stop.

Claim: Failed brakes caused Amazon's plane to overrun the Miami runway

A Reddit post shared a 19-second video showing the Amazon cargo plane crash in Miami. The post described the incident and said, “The moment an Amazon 767 overran a runway today in Miami. 5 people have been confirmed deceased so far, unfortunately.”

Within a few hours of the post going online, users began speculating about what caused the crash. One commenter pointed to the weather conditions at the time and suggested that the aircraft may have landed with a tailwind.

The user wrote, “RIP those people just minding their own business. I was entering the palmetto north bound on West Flagler when I saw the smoke. There was a thunderstorm making its way north. I'm pretty sure they landed with a tailwind. NTSB needs to check the wind data at the time of the accident which I'm sure they will. They don't miss anything.”

Another commenter focused on the aircraft's landing position and suggested that the pilots touched down too far along the runway.

The user claimed, “There are new videos. The pilot landed too shallow, with a poor descent angle. They didn’t hit the ground till they passed halfway down the runway and couldn’t slow down as a result."

The user also speculated that the brakes may have failed or that the reverse thrust could not be activated.

Brakes couldn’t engage or reverse thrusters couldn't be used. Usually pilots will abort landing when this happens, but they kept trying to land. My heart goes out to all hurt by this.”

Fact Check: The claim is unverified

The claim remains unverified. No authorities have confirmed either mechanical problem as a cause of the crash.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident, and investigators have not yet determined what caused the aircraft to overrun the runway.

Reports also noted thunderstorms and strong winds in the Miami area around the time of the crash. While social media users have suggested that weather or a tailwind may have contributed to the incident, investigators have not confirmed that weather caused the crash.

Therefore, claims that failed brakes or reverse thrust caused the runway overrun remain unsubstantiated at this stage.

The Amazon cargo plane, a Boeing 767 operated by 21 Air for Amazon, overran the runway while landing at Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida, on September 6.

The aircraft left the runway, struck vehicles in a nearby area, and caught fire, according to reports. The crash killed five people and injured others.