MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — Two of Miami International Airport’s four runways remained closed on Tuesday after the fatal cargo plane crash in Miami-Dade County, according to the Miami-Dade Aviation Department. There were about 42 cancelations and about 100 delays.
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As this prompted flight cancelations and delays, Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz asked travelers on Tuesday to check with their airlines for the status of their flights.
“We will have to wait here,” said Ali Malik, who faced uncertainty on Tuesday about whether or not his parents were going to arrive at MIA.
The plane crash site also affected vehicle traffic. Cordero-Stutz said Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies closed Northwest 67 Avenue from 25th to 32nd streets.
“Our airport operations bureau and incident management team remain on scene to maintain security, preserve the integrity of the scene, and assist with traffic control,” Cordero-Stutz said.
Five people died, and five were injured after the Boeing 767-300 overtook MIA’s runway 30 shortly before 2 p.m. on Sunday and struck a white 2012 Ford E-150 Econoline van and a Toyota Corolla Cross LE, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
North Carolina-based cargo airline 21 Air was operating Prime Air Flight 798 for Amazon on the Boeing 767-300, manufactured in 1994, with two crew members, according to the Federal Aviation Administration and the NTSB.
The Boeing 767-300 departed from the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, according to the FAA and NTSB. A witness’s video shows there were towering stormy clouds when the plane landed on the runway.
Homendy said the plane traveled for 1,300 feet “past the paved surface.”
While still at MIA, the Boeing 767-300 struck the Econoline van, which belongs to Professional Ocean Service Corp., a cleaning company — and was “torn apart,” according to NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy.
“There were a total of seven in that van,” Cordero-Stutz said on Tuesday.
Cordero-Stutz identified the five who died as Rolando Aleman Leon, 55; Yoel Rodriguez Naranjo, 53; Julio C. Pineda, 75; Carlos Acosta Fajardo, 53; and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo, 47.
The plane crossed a fence, struck the Toyota, struck a second fence, and came to a standstill on a field near rows of parked Tesla Robotaxis, according to Homendy.
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Cordero-Stutz said three who were injured remained hospitalized on Tuesday. MDSO identified them as Eugenio Corredor, whose condition is critical; Ridoel Averhoff Diaz, 32, whose condition is critical; and Roosevelt Sebastian Perdomo Torres, 36, whose condition is stable.
“The two pilots were treated and have since been released,” Cordero-Stutz said.
MDSO identified the pilots as Jaime Felipe Silva Molina, 37, and Joseph Carol, 55, who both suffered minor injuries.
On Sunday, Miami-Dade Fire Chief Raied “Ray” Jadallah said there was a “complex fire.” Witnesses recorded videos showing dark smoke billowing from the crash site. MDFR deployed more than 60 units.
Firefighters reported using foam to help extinguish the flames in the engine compartment.
Rohan Ellis, a witness, shared a video showing a person climbing out of the cockpit through a window and using the firefighters’ ladder.
Fire rescue personnel reported taking the injured to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center and the Jackson South Medical Center.
“There is fuel everywhere. That will have to be remediated, but then they are also removing fuel from the aircraft, so we have to allow that to occur,” Homendy said about the crash site on Monday.
Cordero-Stutz asked the victims’ relatives to contact MDSO victims’ advocates at 305-471-1900.
Homendy asked witnesses to share photos and videos with the NTSB team via e-mail at [email protected].
NTSB news conference
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Related reports
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Local 10 News Assignment Editors Mercedes Cevallos and Mariana Ortiz contributed to this report.
