Amazon Suspends Flights with 21 Air After Miami Crash
Amazon temporarily suspended its air cargo operations with 21 Air following the fatal cargo plane crash that occurred at Miami International Airport on September 6. The decision brought the need for the e-commerce giant to reorganize capacity in its package transportation operations carried out through Amazon Air. Five people were killed and five others were injured in the crash.
Operations with 21 Air Suspended One Week After the Crash
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated that the company had been supporting the investigation following the crash and reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident, and announced that a decision had been made to suspend operations with 21 Air, which operated Flight 7598. Amazon said it would continue to support the investigation and those affected by the crash. The carrier, meanwhile, stated that it remained confident in its safety policies, procedures, and training system and that it was cooperating with the NTSB.
New Capacity Planning for Seven Boeing 767 Aircraft
The decision means that seven Boeing 767 cargo aircraft will be removed from Amazon’s contracted fleet. An eighth aircraft allocated to Amazon was rendered unusable in the crash. 21 Air aircraft had continued operating flights connected to Miami, Cincinnati, and San Juan in the days following the crash. Amazon’s network includes 767s operated by Air Transport International and ABX Air, as well as Hawaiian Airlines’ A330s and 737s operated by different carriers. Amazon has not disclosed which carriers will take over the vacant capacity.
NTSB Examines Speed, Braking Systems, and Operational Procedures
The 32-year-old Boeing 767-300 involved in the crash overran the runway while arriving in Miami from San Juan and struck vehicles on the ground. The aircraft was operating its third flight of the day after Cincinnati-Miami and Miami-San Juan flights. Flight recordings revealed that one of the pilots stated that the aircraft was “too fast” approximately one minute before landing and that the option of executing a go-around was considered after touchdown.
While the recordings showed no indication that the speed brakes or reverse thrust systems had been activated, the aircraft traveled approximately 1,300 feet beyond the end of the runway. The NTSB is also examining the crew, training, FAA oversight, company procedures, and the safety provisions between Amazon and 21 Air. No final determination has yet been announced regarding the probable cause of the crash.
E-Commerce, Retail, and AI-Powered Logistics Network
Amazon Air forms the air transportation arm of the company’s extensive e-commerce and retail logistics system. In 2026, while opening its Supply Chain Services offering to third-party businesses, Amazon announced that it was using AI-based forecasting models to optimize inventory placement and that its logistics network included more than 100 aircraft. The system also supports the distribution of orders from e-commerce marketplaces, brand websites, social commerce channels, and physical stores.
Following the crash, lawsuits alleging negligence were filed in Florida against Amazon, 21 Air, and other parties connected to the flight. While the NTSB investigation continues, Amazon has not disclosed how long the suspension of operations will remain in effect.