Amazon Cargo Jet Pilots Attempted Go-Around After Touchdown, NTSB Says

The pilots of an Amazon Prime Air cargo plane that crashed in Miami on Sunday attempted to abort their landing after the aircraft had already touched down, according to preliminary flight data recorder evidence released Tuesday by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

NTSB Releases Flight Data

The NTSB's initial analysis provides a timeline of the flight's final moments. The agency said the Boeing 767 freighter overran the runway by approximately 1,300 feet, resulting in five fatalities and five injuries.

According to the flight data recorder:

• The nose and right main landing gear touched down at 158 knots, 30 seconds before the recording ended.
• The left main landing gear touched down at 134 knots, 19 seconds before the end of the recording.
• Shortly after, the brakes were released and throttles were advanced to a level consistent with go-around thrust, indicating an attempt to take off again.
• The throttles were returned to idle and brakes reapplied just 11 seconds before the recording stopped.

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The NTSB noted that the data showed no indication that speed brakes or thrust reversers were deployed to help slow the aircraft. The final recorded ground speed was 65 knots.

Investigation and Context

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy stated that investigators plan to interview both pilots on Wednesday, after which details from the cockpit voice recorder may be released. The aircraft, a 32-year-old Boeing 767, was operated by Miami-based 21 Air on behalf of Amazon.

The flight originated in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was on its third flight of the day. The crash places a spotlight on the operational integrity of Amazon's rapidly growing air logistics network, which relies on third-party carriers and often utilizes older, converted freighter aircraft to manage its cargo volumes.