NBC News Aviation Investigation Grounding

Miami Cargo Runway Overrun Sequence & Impact Reconstruction

Amazon-branded freighter runway excursion into cleaning company van & SUV
INCIDENT ID: MIA-CARGO-78
CASUALTIES: 5 CONFIRMED FATALITIES

Tactical Top-Down Flight Deck & Runway Excursion Canvas

SCALE: 1 px = 3.5 ft
OBSTACLES: Cleaning Van & SUV at 850 ft mark
AIRCRAFT: B767-300F (Amazon Prime Air livery)
Active Runway Surface Overrun / Grass Safety Area Impact Collision Zone (850 ft) Deceleration Stopping Point

Investigative Findings & Casualty Zone Sequence

Incident Context: According to NBC News, five members of an airline cleaning company were killed after an Amazon-branded cargo plane overran the runway threshold at a Miami airport, violently striking the cleaning company's transport van and an adjacent passenger SUV positioned in the perimeter service road area.
This reconstruction models the kinetic energy transfer, tire hydroplaning friction loss, and residual stopping vector of a widebody freighter (185.5 tons) exiting the paved surface at 45 knots. When the aircraft overruns the 850-foot service perimeter road, it strikes ground vehicles at 28.3 knots with a kinetic energy delivery of 48.6 Megajoules, exceeding fatal structural crush thresholds for utility vans and SUVs.

Dynamic Physics Telemetry

Critical Impact Confirmed (Van & SUV)
Stopping Distance 1120.4 ft From Runway Threshold
Runway Margin -270.4 ft Negative indicates penetration
Impact Velocity 28.3 kts At 850 ft obstacle position
Kinetic Energy 48.6 MJ Structural impact transfer

Aircraft Weight (Tons) 185.5 tons
Initial Overrun Speed 45.0 kts
Braking Friction Coeff (μ) 0.32
Ground Vehicle Obstacle Distance 850 ft
Touchdown Point 6500 ft
NTSB / FAA Reference Physics Standard
Kinetic deceleration is calculated via $v^2 = v_0^2 - 2 a d$ with unpaved soil rolling resistance damping and tire-ground shear interaction $\mu$. FAA Advisory Circular 150/5220-22B runway safety zone parameters applied.