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NTSB: Pilot in Miami cargo accident pressed forward with landing despite NTSB warnings

The National Transportation Safety Board reported that the pilot of an Amazon Prime Air cargo aircraft that crashed in Miami on Sunday warned they were flying 'too fast' just over a moment before touching down on the 'runway overran by the plane.

The pilot continued to make comments about the plane's speed as automated warnings were sounded.

The other pilot, however, did not provide a clear response verbally, according to a cockpit voice recording that was detailed in a Wednesday investigative update. However, it did not identify who the speakers were as either the captain or the first officer.

The 32-year old Boeing 767 operated Miami-based 21 Air overran runway by about 1,300 feet (396 meters) and crashed into two vehicles that were on the ground. Five people died, while another five were injured.

According to the NTSB, the NTSB released information that stated, "sink-rate sink-rate" was heard twice in the cockpit as the aircraft descended 400 feet at one point in only four seconds. Then, five?warnings were given about "too-low terrain."

Why did they keep using the same approach? Anthony Brickhouse is an aerospace safety consultant. "They were aware of several signs that their approach wasn't stable, but continued to fly instead of going around."

The NTSB reported that 15 seconds after landing, one pilot called for an abort and increased the throttles to a level "consistent with go-around thrust".

Flightradar24 data based on NTSB initial disclosures shows that the plane was approaching the end of runway, but it was still traveling at 120 knots.

The NTSB reported that four seconds after the sounds, the throttles had been reduced to idle and the sounds were similar to a plane leaving the runway's paved surfaces.

The board stated on Tuesday that there is no evidence in the data recorded to suggest that the speed brakes or reverse thrusters were used to slow down the plane.

21 Air did not respond to a comment request immediately on the NTSB's information.

Experts in safety say that most plane accidents are the result of multiple factors, which need to be investigated thoroughly.

Brickhouse, who is a pilot, said that "from what I have seen, there was definitely a breakdown of crew resource management." Brickhouse was referring to the training pilots get to coordinate and communicate clearly in the cockpit.

He added that when a pilot ignores cues to something being wrong, "unfortunately bad things happen." "As an investigator, I'm curious to find out what their motivation was, given all the cues that were available. What was the thought process? What was their thought process?

NTSB investigators interviewed the captain and first officer for most of the day on Wednesday before releasing the details from the cockpit recorder.

The Amazon cargo aircraft was on its third day flight, arriving from San Juan in Puerto Rico. The plane had?flew from Cincinnati to Miami, and then from Miami to?San Juan on Sunday morning before it crashed at 1:53?p.m. EDT (1753 GMT).

The NTSB announced on Tuesday that the captain, 55, has 7,145 flight hours and received his 767 type rating in May. Meanwhile, the first officer, 35, has 2,655 flight and received his 767 type rating in April 2025.

(source: Reuters)