New flight data from the Boeing 767 freighter that overran a runway at Miami International Airport on September 6 shows that the aircraft was still travelling at 112 knots, approximately 207 kilometres per hour, as it left the usable runway surface. At least five people were killed in the accident, while another five were injured, three of them critically.

The Boeing 767-300, registered N1997A, was operating 21 Air Flight 7598 from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Miami as part of cargo operations for Amazon Prime Air. The aircraft touched down in Miami at around 13:53 local time following a flight of two hours and 11 minutes but failed to stop within the available length of Runway 30. After overrunning the runway, it continued beyond the airport perimeter, crossed a road and struck several vehicles.

According to Flightradar24 data, the aircraft was travelling at 112 knots when it exited the usable portion of the runway, while the final ADS-B data point received showed a speed of 69 knots. Miami’s Runway 12/30 is 9,355 feet, or approximately 2,851 metres, long.

The high speed at the end of the runway will be an important piece of evidence in the investigation, although it does not by itself explain why the aircraft failed to stop. Investigators are expected to establish the exact touchdown point, the aircraft’s speed and configuration during landing, braking performance and the operation of its deceleration systems. Video of the landing that emerged after the accident appears to show the 767 remaining airborne well down the runway before touching down, making the touchdown point one of the areas likely to receive particular attention.

Adverse weather conditions were present around the airport at the time of the arrival. The METAR in effect when the aircraft landed reported thunderstorms at the airport, winds from 190 degrees at 17 knots gusting to 26 knots and cumulonimbus clouds at approximately 2,000 feet above ground level. According to the Associated Press, it was not raining at the precise time of the accident, although dark storm clouds were present and strong winds had been reported.

Runway condition and available braking friction are also expected to form part of the investigation. Only a few months before the accident, the US National Transportation Safety Board warned that the existing system for assessing wet runway conditions may not sufficiently account for the progressive reduction in braking friction during more intense rainfall. Recommendations issued in May 2026 followed an analysis of 11 runway overruns between 2008 and 2022. In nine of the 11 cases, the NTSB found that reduced braking friction was most likely associated with moderate to heavy rainfall and increased water depth on the runway.

There is currently no evidence, however, that runway surface conditions were the cause of the Miami accident. Along with weather and the touchdown point, investigators are expected to examine the brakes, anti-skid system, spoilers, thrust reversers, landing weight and the aircraft’s mechanical condition. The NTSB has dispatched a team to Miami led by Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy, while Boeing and 21 Air have said they will support the investigation.

After leaving the airport perimeter, the aircraft struck several vehicles. More than 60 emergency units and approximately 200 personnel were deployed to the scene. Firefighters dealt with an aircraft fire and a fuel leak, while several people were trapped in vehicles that had been hit. According to information available by Monday, at least five people had been killed and another five hospitalized, three of them in critical condition. Authorities had not yet released the identities of those killed or conclusively confirmed whether the fatalities were aboard the aircraft or on the ground.

N1997A is a 32-year-old Boeing 767-33A(ER) originally built as a passenger aircraft. It operated in passenger service from 1994 until 2015, when it was converted to freighter configuration. The aircraft is powered by two General Electric CF6-80C2 engines and was being operated by US cargo carrier 21 Air on behalf of Amazon Prime Air at the time of the accident.

The accident caused major disruption at Miami International Airport for several hours. Operations were halted immediately after the crash and gradually resumed later in the evening. More than 160 flights had been cancelled and nearly 325 delayed by the end of Sunday.

The investigation remains in its early stages and the NTSB has not yet drawn any conclusions about the cause of the accident. A clearer sequence of events is expected to emerge following examination of the flight data and cockpit voice recorders, aircraft performance data, meteorological information, runway conditions and the aircraft’s systems and wreckage.