Cockpit audio from the Amazon Air cargo jet that overshot a runway in Miami, struck a van and killed five people suggests one of the pilots attempted to abort the landing moments before impact, calling for a “go-around” in the final seconds.
The National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the investigation, released a summary of the aircraft’s final minutes based on the cockpit voice recorder. The device captured more than two hours of audio from inside the flight deck.
According to the NTSB, roughly 1 minute and 42 seconds before the crash, one pilot cautioned that the aircraft was moving too fast. The same concern continued to surface in the remaining moments of the recording, with repeated references to the plane’s “excessive speed,” investigators said.
About 30 seconds before the crash, sounds consistent with the plane touching down can be heard, the agency said. Approximately 15 seconds later, one of the pilots called for a “go-around” to discontinue the landing. Within another five seconds, the aircraft had already departed the runway.
The NTSB’s release of selected cockpit voice recorder details came on the same day investigators were expected to interview the two pilots, NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy told reporters during an earlier briefing.
In its Wednesday update, however, the agency did not disclose any findings or details from those pilot interviews.
Investigators are expected to issue a preliminary report within the next several weeks.
At a Tuesday news briefing, NTSB officials also outlined information recovered from the flight data recorder. Investigator Chihoon Shin said the data showed the aircraft was on approach to land when, several seconds before the recording ended, the throttles increased in a manner consistent with “go-around thrust.” Moments later, the brakes were applied again and remained engaged through the end of the data, Shin said, though there was no sign that speed brakes or thrust reversers had been deployed.
The cargo plane, Amazon Air Flight 7598 arriving from Puerto Rico, was carrying about 32,000 pounds of mostly contact lenses, Homendy said.
When it overran the runway, the plane hit a Ford Econoline van owned by a company that cleans aircraft, with seven people inside.
The five people who were killed were identified by the Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office as: Rolando Aleman Leon, 55; Yoel Rodriguez Narajo, 53; Julio C. Pineda, 75; Carlos Acosta Fajardo, 53; and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo, 47.
The aircraft’s two pilots were treated and have been released from the hospital, according to the sheriff’s office.
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