NTSB Says Amazon Cargo Pilot Repeatedly Warned Plane Was Too Fast Before Fatal Miami Crash

A pilot aboard the Amazon cargo aircraft that crashed in Miami last weekend, killing five people on the ground, repeatedly cautioned the other pilot that the jet was “too fast” during its final approach and even after it touched down, according to newly released findings from the National Transportation Safety Board.

The flight crew has been identified as Capt. Joseph Carroll, 55, and First Officer Jaime Felipe Silva Molina, 37, both pilots for the cargo carrier 21 Air.

Investigators did not specify which pilot issued the repeated speed warnings or which pilot was at the controls as the aircraft approached Miami International Airport on Sunday.

According to the NTSB’s summary of the cockpit voice recorder, the warnings went on for nearly two minutes, but the pilot receiving them did not provide “a consistent verbal response.”

Data recovered from the flight recorder shows the aircraft was on an unstable approach while battling strong winds. Once on the runway, the pilots briefly attempted to lift off again, advancing the throttles and releasing the brakes, before abandoning the go-around effort roughly four seconds later.

The cockpit voice recorder also picked up multiple automated alerts as the plane descended, including repeated “sink rate” and “too low terrain” warnings before touchdown.

FlightRadar24 tracking data shows the Amazon cargo jet first made contact with the runway nearly 5,000 feet down Miami International Airport’s 9,360-foot Runway 30, leaving less than half the runway available to bring the aircraft to a stop.

The plane touched down awkwardly before the pilots briefly attempted a go-around, then resumed braking, according to the NTSB. The Boeing 767 then barreled about 1,300 feet beyond the end of the runway and struck a van, killing the five people inside.

The five people killed in the van were part of a crew that cleaned planes at the airport, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said Tuesday.

Five others were injured, including two who were in critical condition as of Tuesday. The pilots, who were injured as well, were treated and released before speaking with investigators on Wednesday, according to The Associated Press.

The full transcript of the cockpit conversation has not yet been released as the investigation continues.