A wrongful-death lawsuit has been filed after an Amazon cargo plane crashed at Miami International Airport, killing five airport cleaning workers and leaving others injured.
The lawsuit comes as federal investigators release new details about the final moments of the Boeing 767 before it overran the runway.
The September 6 crash involved 21 Air Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-33A cargo aircraft operating for Amazon.
The flight had departed from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was landing on Runway 30 at Miami International Airport when it ran beyond the runway and struck vehicles on the ground.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has classified the investigation as ongoing.
Wrongful Death Lawsuit Names Amazon and 21 Air
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Yoel Rodriguez Naranjo, 53, whose family is seeking accountability following his death.
Naranjo, who moved to the United States from Cuba in 2011, was driving a van carrying workers from Professional Ocean Service Corp., an aircraft-cleaning company.
The lawsuit names Amazon, 21 Air, which operated the aircraft, and the pilots as defendants. Naranjo was reportedly working a 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. shift when the crash occurred.
Five workers in the van were killed. They were identified as Naranjo, Julio C. Pineda, 75; Rolando Aleman Leon, 55; Carlos Acosta Fajardo, 53; and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo, 47. Two other workers were seriously injured.
Pineda, another Cuban immigrant, was remembered by neighbors as βEl mago,β or βThe Magician,β because of his love of magic tricks, jokes and entertaining his family and friends.
What Happened to the Amazon Cargo Plane?
The NTSB’s preliminary investigation has provided a much clearer picture of the final moments of Flight 7598, although investigators have not determined the probable cause of the crash.
According to the NTSB, one pilot warned about excessive speed approximately 1 minute and 42 seconds before the end of the cockpit voice recording.
The warning was followed by additional comments about the aircraft’s speed, but there was no consistent verbal response from the other pilot.
The aircraft touched down with its nose and right main landing gear at a recorded groundspeed of 158 knots, or roughly 181 mph.
The brakes were then applied, while the left main landing gear touched down at 134 knots.
About 15 seconds before the end of the cockpit recording, one pilot called for a go-around, an attempt to discontinue the landing and climb away.
Flight-data recordings show the throttles were increased to a level consistent with go-around thrust.
But about four seconds later, the throttles were reduced to idle and the brakes were reapplied. The aircraft subsequently left the paved runway.
The NTSB said its preliminary data showed no indication that speed brakes or thrust reversers were deployed.
Investigators emphasize that these findings are preliminary and may change as the investigation continues.
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NTSB Recovers Flight Recorders
Investigators recovered both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the wreckage and successfully read them at the NTSB’s laboratory in Washington.
The cockpit voice recorder contained more than two hours of audio across four channels, while the flight data recorder contained approximately 54 hours of information covering more than 400 parameters.
The NTSB plans additional analysis and will prepare a written transcript of the cockpit recording.
Investigators are examining the aircraft, crew actions, runway conditions, weather, operational factors and other circumstances surrounding the runway overrun.
The FAA has also confirmed that it is involved in the investigation.
The Dangerous Work Behind Airport Turnarounds
The crash has also drawn attention to airport cleaning crews, whose work is essential but largely invisible to passengers.
Professional Ocean Service Corp. cleans and disinfects aircraft and performs tasks involving cabins, bathrooms, carpets and other parts of airplanes.
Workers operate under strict turnaround schedules, often moving quickly between aircraft while working around heavy equipment and other airport-ramp hazards.
The job can involve exposure to cleaning chemicals, bodily fluids and other contaminants.
Workers may also spend time around jet fuel, hydraulic fluids and aircraft weighing hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Extreme temperatures can make conditions even more challenging.
Labor representatives say airport service workers can also face low wages, limited benefits and high turnover, creating additional challenges in an already demanding environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the workers killed in the Miami Amazon plane crash?
The five victims were Yoel Rodriguez Naranjo, Julio C. Pineda, Rolando Aleman Leon, Carlos Acosta Fajardo and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo. They were employees of Professional Ocean Service Corp. and were traveling in a cleaning-crew van when the aircraft crashed.
What caused the Amazon plane crash in Miami?
The cause has not yet been determined. Preliminary NTSB data shows the aircraft landed at high speed, a go-around was called shortly afterward, and the plane subsequently left the paved runway. Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances.
What airline operated the Amazon cargo plane?
The aircraft was 21 Air Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-33A cargo plane operating for Amazon. It was flying from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Miami International Airport.
When did the Miami Amazon plane crash happen?
The crash occurred on September 6, 2026, at Miami International Airport. The FAA said the aircraft overran the runway after landing at approximately 2 p.m. local time.
What did the NTSB find?
The NTSB’s preliminary findings indicate that the aircraft touched down at high speed, brakes were applied, and the crew later initiated what appeared to be a go-around attempt. The throttles were subsequently reduced to idle and the brakes reapplied. Investigators found no indication in the recorded data that speed brakes or thrust reversers were deployed.
Is the investigation complete?
No. The NTSB investigation remains ongoing, and its current flight-recorder findings are explicitly described as preliminary and subject to change. A final determination of probable cause has not been released.
The tragedy has therefore become both a devastating loss for five families and a major aviation-safety investigation.
As investigators analyze the aircraft, flight recorders, crew actions and runway circumstances, the central question remains why the cargo jet was unable to stop safely after landing, and whether different actions could have prevented the deadly collision.
