At least five people have been killed after an Amazon cargo plane overshot a runway and crashed into vehicles at Miami International Airport in Florida, officials say.
The Prime Air Flight 7598 caught fire after landing at the airport following a flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Miami-Dade County Fire Chief Ray Jadallah said three people were taken to trauma centres in critical condition, while two others were treated at a local hospital.
“The airplane did strike a couple of vehicles,” Mr Jadallah told reporters, adding that some victims were trapped inside the vehicles.
He said emergency crews also had to carry out a “complex extrication” involving the pilot and co-pilot, who were trapped inside the aircraft.
Firefighters used foam to extinguish a fire in the plane’s engine compartment, while specialist hazardous materials teams worked to control a fuel leak.
“One person was trapped under one of the involved vehicles and had to be extricated by specialised technical rescue personnel,” Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said.
About 60 fire apparatuses and nearly 200 firefighters and rescue personnel responded to the crash, Mr Jadallah said.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it had launched a team to investigate the runway excursion involving the Boeing 767-300 cargo aircraft.
“The actual cause of the incident will be determined by the FAA and the NTSB,” Mr Jadallah said, referring to the Federal Aviation Administration and the NTSB.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said the company would co-operate with the investigation.
“We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today’s incident at Miami International Airport,” she said.
“Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss.”
The crash initially forced the closure of all runways and taxiways at Miami International Airport, causing delays and cancellations.
The Miami Herald later reported that two of the airport’s four runways had reopened.
Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz described the incident as a “really tragic scene”, but said there was no apparent threat to public safety.
Mayor Daniella Levine Cava praised emergency responders, saying the fire rescue team arrived “within seconds of the crash”.
