Amazon plane crash victims identified as NTSB investigates cause of deadly incident at Miami International Airport
The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office released the names of the five people who were killed when an Amazon cargo plane overshot a runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday, slammed into vehicles near the airport and burst into flames.
All of those who were killed were in two vehicles that were hit during the crash, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said Monday.
Five people were also injured, including the pilot and co-pilot, who have since been treated and released from a Miami hospital, according to Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz.
The pilots have been identified as Joseph Carroll, 55, and Jaime Felipe Silva Molina, 37. CBS News has determined the names of the pilots using the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office release, LinkedIn profiles, and the FAA pilot database. LinkedIn profiles list Carroll as a captain with 21 Air and Jaime Felipe Silva Molina as a 21 Air first officer.
In a news release, the MDSO said Tuesday that three people remain in the hospital in critical condition.
Who were the victims of the Amazon cargo plane crash at MIA?
The five people who were killed were identified as:
- Rolando Aleman Leon, 55
- Yoel Rodríguez Naranjo, 53
- Julio C. Pineda, 75
- Carlos Acosta Fajardo, 53
- Javierkys Reyes Quevedo, 47
The five people who were injured were identified as:
- Eugenio Corredor, 79
- Ridoel Averhoff Diaz, 32
- Roosevelt Sebastian Perdomo Torres, 36
- Jaime Felipe Silva Molina, 37
- Joseph Caroll, 55
Friends and neighbors are remembering the victims as caring and generous people.
Blanca, who said she was both a friend and landlord to Rolando Aleman Leon for five years, described the loss as devastating.
"I never had a loss like this in my life. I loved him very much," Blanca said in Spanish.
She said Leon was good in all respects and leaves behind a son. His hat and watch still sit next to his bed.
"I'm devastated by it; I can't stand a loss like this. I'm never going to see him again," Blanca said.
Neighbors of 75-year-old Julio Pineda are remembering him as a kind and friendly presence in their Hialeah high-rise, mourning the loss of a man they say was always ready to share a smile and a treat.
"He was a very nice guy, very pleasant guy. Sometimes he would bring fruit to my son," one of the neighbor said in Spanish.
"So sweet," said Lidia Rodriguez, another neighbor of Pineda. "Happy all the time. Very nice, very nice person. Everyone is missing him."
The hallways where Pineda lived are now empty. Neighbors say on nights like these, he would typically have his door wide open to chat with those around him, a routine he maintained for decades.
"He brings cookies for the neighbors, food for the neighbors," Rodriguez said. "He's a very nice person."
"From the moment this tragedy occurred, the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office has maintained a continuous presence on-scene," Cordero-Stutz said during the news conference. "Our mission remains clear – protect the scene, support the families and follow the facts."
She said that the MDSO's Airport Operations Bureau and Incident Management Team remain at the scene to maintain security, preserve the integrity of the scene, and to assist with traffic control. In addition, the MDSO's Homicide Bureau is also investigating the crash.
"Our investigators remain in contact with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives," Cordero-Stutz said.
CBS News Miami has also learned that at least two of the victims' families have hired attorneys to represent them.
Carlos Acosta Fajardo's family issued a statement through their law firm, The Gutrierrez Firm, to CBS News Miami on behalf of the family members.
It reads: "Mr. Acosta Fajardo was an incredible human being, a loving husband, devoted son, cherished friend, and valued co-worker. He was deeply loved by those who knew him, and his family is devastated by this sudden and unimaginable loss. The family respectfully requests privacy as they grieve and begin the difficult process of understanding what occurred. They ask that the investigation be allowed to take its course so that the facts can be determined and those responsible can be held accountable."
The attorney expressed that they will be protecting the family and helping them find answers after their loss during this tragedy.
"The Gutierrez Firm's immediate priority is protecting this family and helping them receive the answers they deserve," said Jorge P. Gutierrez Jr. "We will conduct a thorough and independent investigation while treating Mr. Acosta Fajardo's memory and his family with the dignity and respect they deserve."
Victims killed, injured in crash were in vehicles, NTSB says
Homendy said Monday that the flight, Amazon Air Flight 7598, was a Boeing 767-33 Alpha operated by 21 Air LLC. It had arrived from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was on its third flight of the day, having gone from Cincinnati to Miami, then Miami to San Juan and back to Miami.
The plane overran runway 30 on landing, struck navigational aids and hit a 2012 white Ford Econoline van owned by the Professional Ocean Service Corporation, a contract cleaning company for the airlines, Homendy said. Seven people were inside the van at the time.
Professional Ocean Service has issued a new statement to CBS News Miami on the tragedy that said:
"Our Professional Ocean Service Corp. family is heartbroken by this unimaginable tragedy. Our employees are far more than the people who work beside us each day; they are family, and they are deeply loved. Our hearts and prayers are with every employee and every family whose lives have been forever changed. We grieve with those who lost a loved one and pray for the healing and recovery of those who were injured. To our employees and their families, please know that you are not alone. We will stand beside you and support you through these difficult days ahead. Out of respect for the families and the ongoing investigation, we will not comment further on the circumstances of the accident. Our focus remains where it belongs: their families and ensuring they receive the love and support they need. We ask everyone to keep them in their thoughts and prayers and to respect their privacy during this incredibly difficult time."
Amazon also issued a statement, expressing condolences to the families of the victims.
"Our deepest sympathies remain with the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating tragedy," Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said in a new statement to CBS News Miami. "The NTSB is on the ground at Miami International Airport conducting its investigation. We'll fully cooperate with them and support any other investigating authorities, and we'll also continue to coordinate with 21 Air, which operated the flight. Amazon leaders are also meeting with local officials, first responders, and others in the community to offer our support."
The plane then tore through a perimeter fence and struck a Toyota Corolla Cross LE that was traveling on Northwest 67 Avenue.
It continued into the grass and hit another fence line in an area where Tesla robotaxis were stationed. In total, the plane traveled about 1,300 feet past the paved surface, Homendy said.
Homendy said the van was inside the airport, while the Toyota was outside.
Cellphone video shows first responders finding a person alive inside the crushed Toyota.
"I would describe it in one word: devastating, utter devastation," Homendy said. "The Econoline van is torn apart. You can see airbags, the surrounding airbags. You can see components from vehicles, both passenger vehicles and the aircraft itself. Certainly navigation components, some debris from the airport, and then certainly fencing everywhere. It's pretty extensive."