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Amazon Suspends 21 Air Operations Following Prime Air Crash

Amazon has confirmed it is pausing operations with 21 Air, the carrier that operated the Prime Air freighter involved in the fatal runway excursion at Miami International Airport on September 6.

Statement from Amazon…

In a statement issued on September 13, Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said the decision followed a review of the circumstances surrounding the accident.

“Safety has always been our top priority, whether in our own operations or when we’re working with partners,” Nantel said.

“After the tragic incident last weekend, we’ve spent time supporting the investigation and reviewing some of the surrounding circumstances, and we’ve decided to pause our operations with 21 Air, the operator of Flight 7598.”

“We’ll continue working to support the investigation and everyone affected.”

The statement marks Amazon’s fourth public update since the accident, following confirmations on September 6, September 8 and September 9 in which the company pledged cooperation with the National Transportation Safety Board and support for the Miami Dade community.

Amazon has not said whether the pause with 21 Air is temporary or permanent, nor whether it extends to other routes the operator flies on Amazon’s behalf.

What The Investigation Has Revealed

The NTSB has released a steady flow of detail since the accident of the Amazon Prime Air Boeing 767, as The Aviation Hub has been reporting.

Flight 2I7598, a Boeing 767-300 freighter operating from San Juan to Miami, overran the runway before striking a van carrying seven people and a second vehicle, then broke through a perimeter fence before coming to rest in a parking lot.

Flight data recorder information released by the board shows an unusually long touchdown sequence.

The aircraft landed at 158 knots, briefly applied go around thrust after the brakes had already been engaged, then reverted to idle power and reapplied braking before departing the paved surface at 96 knots.

Investigators noted no evidence that speed brakes or thrust reversers were deployed at any stage.

Amazon has paused operations with 21 Air, operator of the Prime Air 767 involved in the fatal Miami runway excursion, as the NTSB investigation continues.
Photo Credit: Acroterion via Wikimedia Commons.

A cockpit voice recorder transcript covering the final six minutes shows one pilot repeatedly warning that the aircraft was too fast on approach, without a consistent response from the other crew member.

Multiple sink rate and terrain alerts sounded in the seconds before touchdown.

The aircraft involved, registered N1997A, was more than 32 years old and had operated under 21 Air’s certificate in Amazon Prime Air colours since January 2025.

The NTSB has said the captain held 7,145 flight hours and the first officer 2,655 hours, with both scheduled for interview alongside 21 Air’s chief pilot in the days following the accident.

What Comes Next Following Amazon Statement…

Those interviews have now taken place, though the board has drawn no conclusions from the material released so far.

The decision from Amazon to pause its relationship with 21 Air comes as that inquiry continues, and will likely intensify scrutiny of the ageing 767 freighter fleet flying under third party operators in Prime Air colours.

For now, Amazon says its focus remains on supporting the investigation and the people affected by the crash, with further updates expected as the NTSB’s work progresses.

Continue to follow The Aviation Hub for more analysis and insight!

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