MIAMI — At least five people lost their lives and five others suffered injuries after an Amazon Prime Air cargo plane overran the runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday afternoon, plowing across a nearby perimeter road and colliding with several vehicles before bursting into flames.

The incident occurred around 2:00 p.m. local time as the Boeing 767, flying in from San Juan, Puerto Rico, attempted to land amidst severe weather conditions in the area. The aircraft failed to stop on the tarmac, barreled off the runway, and crossed a roadway frequently utilized by local warehouse workers and surrounding airport businesses.

Miami-Dade County officials confirmed that five fatalities have been reported, with three people currently in critical condition and two others hospitalized with less severe injuries. Authorities noted that it was not immediately clear whether all of those killed were inside vehicles on the ground or on board the aircraft.

According to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Ray Jadallah, the crash caused heavy flames and thick black smoke that could be seen for miles. More than 200 emergency personnel rushed to the scene. Firefighters trapped in a complex rescue effort had to extricate the pilot and copilot from the cockpit as well as several individuals trapped inside crushed automobiles on the road. Fire crews used specialized foam units to extinguish the engine compartment fire while dealing with an active aviation fuel leak.

Images from the site showed the Prime Air plane resting on its belly beside a roadway near two semi-trucks, relatively intact despite severe fire damage.

The aircraft, a 32-year-old Boeing 767 operated by North Carolina-based cargo airline 21 Air, was originally manufactured for passenger service before being converted into a freighter in 2015. At the time of landing, the National Weather Service had reported localized thunderstorms accompanied by wind gusts reaching up to 30 mph.

Aviation safety experts monitoring the incident pointed to potential flight dynamics during landing. Preliminary footage circulating online suggested the plane may have floated above the runway for an extended period without immediately locking down its main landing gear, consuming critical landing space.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced that a full investigation team, led by Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy, is being dispatched to Miami to determine the precise cause of the crash.

In a public statement, Amazon expressed sorrow over the incident: "We're heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today's incident at Miami International Airport. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss."

The runway excursion caused significant travel chaos across the region, triggering over 160 flight cancellations and more than 300 delays at Miami International Airport, with several incoming flights diverted to Orlando.