Amazon has paused operations with 21 Air after the fatal crash of an Amazon-branded cargo plane at Miami International Airport earlier this month.
The Boeing 767-300 freighter, which had Amazon Prime Air's logo on the side, overshot the runway on Sept. 6 after arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico. It struck two vehicles, including a van carrying workers for a cleaning service. Five people on the ground were killed and five others were injured.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said the company decided to 'pause our operations with 21 Air, the operator of Flight 7598' after spending time supporting the investigation and reviewing surrounding circumstances. Amazon said it will continue working to support the investigation and everyone affected.
21 Air is headquartered in North Carolina and is owned by Jim Crane, a logistics billionaire who also owns the Houston Astros. The carrier said it remains focused on supporting families and loved ones affected by the crash and is cooperating with investigators.
The National Transportation Safety Board released details from the plane's black boxes on Wednesday. Investigators said one pilot warned the other they were approaching the runway too fast, but 'there was not a consistent verbal response.' About 15 seconds after the airplane appeared to touch down, the data suggested one pilot called for a go-around, or aborted landing attempt. The flight data recorder showed thrust increasing consistent with that maneuver, but the throttles were then reduced and the brakes were reapplied.
Chihoon Shin, the NTSB's lead investigator, said the speed brakes and thrust reversers were not deployed. He also said it was not clear why they might not have been used.
Washington Examiner reported that the aircraft was traveling at 181 miles per hour when it touched down, about 25 miles per hour faster than the normal landing speed for an aircraft of that size. The plane was on its third flight of the day, having previously flown from Cincinnati to Miami and from Miami to San Juan.
The NTSB has not determined a probable cause, and the investigation is ongoing. A final report is typically expected within one to two years.
For founders, the playbook is simple: when a safety incident hits, the cost of delay compounds fast. Amazon moved to cut operational ties while the probe continues, and that is what risk containment looks like when brand, liability, and operations all collide.
The broader lesson is about control. In aviation and in business, the margin for error is thin, and the companies that act quickly when the facts point to a breakdown protect more than reputation. They protect customers, cash flow, and the people who depend on them.
