Amazon Air has decided to pause its operations with 21 Air following the tragic accident that saw a Boeing freighter overrun a Miami Airport runway, resulting in the deaths of five people.
In a statement, Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said: “Safety has always been our top priority, whether in our own operations or when we’re working with partners.
“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.”
Prior to the accident, the airline operated around eight Boeing 767 freighter aircraft on behalf of Amazon, which itself has a fleet of more than 100 freighters.
At this stage, it is not clear what Amazon plans to do with the aircraft that are operated by 21 Air.
Capacity at this time of year comes under pressure as the e-commerce platform prepares for its Prime Day sales event that sees shipments spike.
The company will therefore be looking to find a quick resolution to avoid the loss of capacity provided by the aircraft.
The 32-year old aircraft overran the runway at Miami Airport on 6 September.
US investigators last week revealed that one of the pilots had warned about excessive speed on final approach, while the aircraft subsequently generated multiple sink-rate and ground-proximity alerts as it descended.
After the aircraft touched down, one of the crew called for a go-around just five seconds before the jet left the runway surface.
As the aircraft – branded for Amazon Air – went off the end of the runway, it struck a van and a car, killing five people before coming to a stop.
The flight (7598) originated from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Following the incident, 21 Air said it was devastated by the incident and expressed its condolences.
“Our immediate priorities are supporting those affected, assisting the authorities, and ensuring that accurate information is communicated as it becomes available,” chief executive Keith Winters said.
“We are cooperating fully with the NTSB, the Federal Aviation Administration, and local authorities. The circumstances of the accident are under investigation,” he added.
