Pilots in Fatal Plane Crash Got Speed Warnings, Report Says

Pilots flying an Amazon cargo aircraft that crashed onto a roadway were warned repeatedly about the plane’s high speed before landing, but the concerns were not effectively addressed, according to a newly released report.

The 21 Air flight, operating for Amazon, overran the runway at Miami International Airport on September 6 before striking two vehicles. Five people on the ground were killed, while three others suffered serious injuries.

The National Transportation Safety Board has published a preliminary report outlining the early findings from its investigation into the crash.

Recordings recovered from the aircraft captured several warnings during the approach, including an automated alert indicating that the plane was traveling too fast.

According to the report, the captain instructed the crew to set the flaps at 20 degrees, prompting the first officer to warn that the aircraft’s speed was excessive.

The first officer continued to raise concerns about the speed during the remainder of the recording, but the report said there was no consistent verbal response from the crew.

Several electronic alerts followed, and the autopilot appeared to disengage only seconds later. After touchdown, one of the pilots called for a “go-around,” an emergency maneuver used to abandon a landing and attempt another approach.

Two people were aboard the cargo aircraft, both members of the flight crew. They suffered minor injuries in the crash.

The aircraft landed approximately 3,750 feet beyond the designated touchdown zone while traveling at about 184 mph, then struck a Ford Econoline passenger van on a road running alongside the airport, the report said.

Seven people were inside the van. Five died in the collision, while two others sustained serious injuries.

The plane then hit a Toyota Corolla Cross SUV, seriously injuring its driver.

It also tore through a chain-link fence around a parking lot before finally stopping about 1,200 feet from the runway.

Investigators found that the pilots did not activate the aircraft’s speed brakes or thrust reversers. The report also said air traffic controllers did not relay wind information to the flight before it touched down.

Around four minutes before the landing, a controller had told another aircraft about a 22 mph wind gust. However, the 21 Air crew was tuned to a different frequency and did not receive the warning.

The pilots were identified as Joseph Carroll, 55, and Jaime Felipe Silva Molina, 37. The Miami Herald reported that both men were discharged from the hospital soon after the crash.

The preliminary findings also showed that the fatal flight marked the first time Carroll and Molina had worked together.

Carroll had flown a round-trip flight from Miami to Bogotá, Colombia, the day before. Silva Molina flew a round-trip flight from Miami to Baltimore three days before. 

The captain had about 7,627 total flight hours and was hired by 21 Air in April. The first officer had about 2,800 flight hours and was hired in February of 2025. 

The plane, which was a Boeing 767, was built in June 1994 and was substantially damaged in the crash by a fire on the right wing. 

The NTSB’s 12-page report provided extensive details on the plane and the crash, but did not conclude why the accident occurred. 

Just 30 seconds after the plane crashed, firefighters arrived on scene and found the victims trapped inside their vehicles, Fire Chief Raied Jadallah said at a news conference following the incident. 

‘The plane is on fire. The plane is on fire,’ a firefighter could be heard in emergency radio dispatch obtained by the Miami Herald. ‘Put your game face on guys.’ 

One person was left trapped underneath one of the struck vehicles and had to be extricated by specialized rescue personnel, fire crews told the Daily Mail at the time as they continued to try to stop a fuel leak at the scene. 

The five victims were identified as Rolando Aleman, 55, Yoel Rodriguez Naranjo, 53, Julio C Pineda, 75, Carlos Acosta Fajardo, 53, and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo, 47.

Pablo Rojas, an attorney representing one of the survivors, 27-year-old Sebastian Perdomo Torres, told CBS News that the NTSB’s report does not answer all his questions. 

‘I don’t know for sure what the NTSB’s conclusions are going to be, but I can tell you that this information does not answer all the questions we have about the broader airline operations. So we will be taking a thorough look at that independently what the NTSB finds about the specific immediate causes of the crash,’ he said. 

On September 13, Amazon announced it would pause operations with 21 Air following the crash. 

‘After the tragic incident last weekend, we’ve spent time supporting the investigation and reviewing some of the surrounding circumstances, and we’ve decided to pause our operations with 21 Air, the operator of Flight 7598,’ spokesperson Kelly Nantel said. 

Nantel told the Daily Mail in a recent statement that: ‘The loss of life and injuries resulting from the accident involving 21 Air flight #7598 on Sept 6th weighs heavily on all of us at Amazon. 

‘Our hearts continue to be with the families and loved ones of those who died or were injured, and with the entire Miami-Dade community. We remain committed to supporting the NTSB’s ongoing investigation and ask that any questions related to it be directed to them.’

The Daily Mail has reached out to 21 Air for comment.