Miami: Amazon cargo plane's black box has been found

Two black boxes from the Amazon cargo plane that crashed at Miami International Airport have been recovered, marking a key step in the investigation into the accident that killed five people and injured five others, officials said on Monday. The Boeing 767-300, operated by 21 Air on behalf of Amazon, overshot the runway during its landing on Sunday and collided with multiple vehicles before coming to rest beyond the airport’s operational boundary. The aircraft, which had departed from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, traveled approximately 400 meters past the paved area of the runway before hitting a SUV traveling on a road. It continued through grass, striking another barrier near a section where Tesla robot taxis were parked. The crash site was described as one of "total devastation," with tire marks stretching from pavement to grass and debris scattered throughout the area. Jennifer Homendy, director of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), confirmed that both the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder had been retrieved. These devices will be sent to the NTSB headquarters within hours and analyzed starting Tuesday. Investigators aim to determine the plane’s exact speed at the time of landing using data from the recorders. Homendy stated that the NTSB would interview the crew of the crashed aircraft, as well as pilots of other planes that had landed on the same runway prior to the incident. The Boeing 767-300 had completed three flights on Sunday, including a trip from Cincinnati to Miami, followed by a round trip between Miami and San Juan. Firefighters had to extract the pilot and co-pilot from the cockpit, where the engines were reportedly on fire. The crash disrupted air traffic significantly, with nearly 90 flights canceled and about 400 delayed in both directions, according to FlightAware. The victims included individuals in a van carrying seven employees from a cleaning company used by airlines and occupants of the SUV that was hit by the plane. The crash site was marked by extensive damage, with firefighters responding with more than 60 units and around 200 personnel. The aircraft, a 32-year-old Boeing 767 originally designed for passenger travel, had been converted to a cargo plane in 2015. Images from the scene showed the plane resting on its belly, largely intact despite the fire. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the crash, though investigators are examining possible factors such as the plane’s speed and runway conditions. The NTSB has dispatched a team led by Homendy to conduct a thorough investigation. Amazon has expressed deep concern over the incident and pledged full cooperation with the ongoing inquiry. A spokesperson for the company, Kelly Nantel, stated that the firm’s "deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss." The crash has raised questions about the safety of cargo operations at Miami International Airport, which handles a large volume of international freight and passenger traffic. Officials warned that delays and cancellations could continue into early Monday. The NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration are continuing their investigations into the incident, aiming to identify the root causes and prevent similar occurrences in the future.