On Sunday, September 6, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released excerpts from the cockpit voice recorder of the Amazon cargo flight that overshot the runway at Miami International Airport.
According to the NTSB, one pilot repeatedly warned his co-pilot—almost two minutes before landing—that the aircraft was approaching too quickly, and at the last moment, urged to abort the maneuver. The co-pilot failed to provide a "coherent verbal response" to these warnings.
Mike O'Donnell, a former official with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), told the Associated Press that upon realizing the plane's excessive speed, the crew had ample opportunity to take corrective measures: deploying air brakes, reducing engine power, and lowering the landing gear. Alternatively, they could have aborted the landing and circled around for another attempt.
"There is sufficient time to slow down and enough time to execute a go-around maneuver when you have two minutes before landing," stated O'Donnell, who previously oversaw airport safety and air accident investigations.
Flight recorder data reconstructed the final 30 seconds of the crash: the Boeing 767-300 touched down at 158 knots, an excessive speed for that phase of the flight.
Key Findings from the Investigation
Investigators are focusing on the fact that the logs did not show evidence of the crew deploying the air brakes or thrust reversers, systems specifically designed to slow the aircraft during landing.
The plane ran off the end of the runway by approximately 1,300 feet (396 meters), breached a perimeter fence, collided with a car, and then struck a van belonging to Professional Ocean Service Corporation, carrying seven cleaning workers, before bursting into flames.
Jennifer Homendy, chair of the NTSB, noted that the recorder contains over two hours of high-quality audio, but the full transcript will not be released until the pilot interviews are analyzed thoroughly.
Pilot Details and Investigation Timeline
The two pilots—Joseph Carroll, 55, and First Officer Jaime Felipe Silva Molina, 37—sustained minor injuries and were released from medical care prior to being interviewed by NTSB investigators on Wednesday. Carroll had logged 7,145 flight hours, while Silva Molina had 2,655.
The comprehensive investigation, which will include maintenance records and operational documents from 21 Air, the North Carolina-based cargo airline operating the flight for Amazon Prime Air, is expected to take several months to complete.
Tragically, the crash claimed the lives of five Cuban nationals: Rolando Alemán León (55 years, from Cruces, Cienfuegos), Yoel Rodríguez Naranjo (53), Julio C. Pineda (75), Carlos Acosta Fajardo (53), and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo (47). Five others were injured, with two remaining in critical condition.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Miami Cargo Plane Crash
What caused the Amazon cargo plane to overshoot the runway?
The plane was traveling too fast upon landing, and the crew failed to deploy systems designed to slow the aircraft, such as air brakes and thrust reversers.
How long will the NTSB investigation take?
The investigation, including an analysis of maintenance records and operational documents, is expected to take several months.
Who were the pilots involved in the crash?
The pilots were Joseph Carroll, 55, and First Officer Jaime Felipe Silva Molina, 37, both of whom sustained minor injuries.