Amazon announced on Sunday that it has suspended its use of cargo carrier 21 Air following a fatal crash involving an Amazon-branded aircraft at Miami International Airport earlier this month, which resulted in the deaths of five people and injuries to five others [1]. The incident occurred on September 6, when Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-300 operated by 21 Air, overran Runway 30 upon landing from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and struck two vehicles, including a van carrying airline cleaning service workers. All five fatalities were individuals on the ground, identified as Yoel Rodriguez Naranjo, 53; Rolando Aleman Leon, 55; Julio C. Pineda, 75; Carlos Acosta Fajardo, 53; and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo, 47 [1].
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated that the decision to pause operations with 21 Air was made after reviewing circumstances surrounding the crash and supporting the ongoing National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation. Amazon will reroute shipments previously assigned to 21 Air through other carriers, including Sun Country Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Air Transport International, ABX Air, ASL Airlines, and Cargojet [1].
21 Air, which specializes in cargo shipments to and from Mexico, expressed its commitment to supporting those affected and cooperating with the NTSB and Amazon during the investigation. CEO Keith Winters extended condolences to the victims' families and emphasized the company's focus on assisting authorities and ensuring accurate information dissemination [1].
Preliminary data from the flight’s cockpit voice recorder (CVR) indicated that one pilot repeatedly cautioned about excessive speed during landing, but there was no consistent verbal response from the other pilot. The CVR summary released by the NTSB suggests the plane touched down and, about 15 seconds later, a pilot called out, but further details were not provided in the article [1].
CONCLUSION
Amazon's suspension of 21 Air operations following the fatal Miami crash underscores the company's commitment to safety and its swift response to operational risks. The rerouting of shipments to other carriers is expected to mitigate immediate supply chain disruptions, while the ongoing NTSB investigation may yield further insights into the incident. Market sentiment is negative due to the tragic loss of life and operational uncertainty for both Amazon and 21 Air.