Details could be released Sept. 8 regarding what caused an Amazon cargo plane to overshoot a runway at Miami International Airport, killing five and injuring another five.
The plane’s flight data recorder and voice recorder were recovered by National Transportation Board officials and were being examined. A press conference was scheduled for Sept. 8.
Flight 7598 overshot the airport's diagonal runway at about 2 p.m. Sept. 6as it attempted to land the flight arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The plane slammed into a van carrying seven employees from a company that supplies airline cleaners and one other vehicle.
Authorities have not released identities of the victims and have not said if the five deceasedincluded the plane’s pilot or copilot.
However. all indications are the pilot and copilot are alive. NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said her team has not had a chance to speak with the crew aboard the plane, and videos of the aftermath show two people being assisted out a window in the cockpit.
What is the status of Miami International Airport days after fatal plane crash?
Two of the four runways at Miami International Airport remained closed Wednesday, Sept. 8.
“Cancellations continue due to aircraft and flight crews not having arrived,” according to a statement from the airport. “Passengers with flights scheduled today should check directly with their airline for flight updates before heading to the airport.”
NTSB officials said investigators plan to be on the scene for about a week. A large amount of fuel was at the debris-filled crash site and it still needed to be removed safely.
What caused the deadly Amazon plane crash in Florida?
NTSB officials said Sept. 7 it was too early to speculate.
Robert A. Clifford, an aviation attorney with nearly 50 years experience examined the initial data of the crash and believed it was possibly caused by pilot error.
“This appears to be a classic tailwind landing mistake where a pilot mistakenly or over-confidently decides to land with a tailwind instead of a headwind which causes excessive touchdown speed and distance from the threshold, leaving inadequate stopping distance for the airplane's braking and reverse thrust systems to handle,” Clifford said in a statement.
“The highway vehicles stood no chance against the 300,000-pound Boeing 767-300 crashing into them at that speed.”
Michelle Spitzer is a journalist for The USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA. As the network’s Rapid Response reporter, she covers Florida’s breaking news. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Black boxes being examined in Florida Amazon cargo plane crash
