Five people have been killed and several others rushed to hospital after an Amazon cargo plane careened off a runway at Miami International Airport, smashing into several vehicles before erupting in flames.
The dramatic crash unfolded about 2pm on Sunday after the Prime Air aircraft arrived in Florida from San Juan, Puerto Rico, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The plane overshot the runway before eventually coming to a stop beside a roadway, where images shared on social media showed two semi-trucks nearby.
Pictures from the scene showed the aircraft resting on its belly and appearing largely intact despite a fire breaking out following the crash.
Five people have now been confirmed dead following the horror incident, while several others have been transported to hospital with injuries. The extent of their injuries remains unknown.
The emergency forced authorities to close all runways and taxiways at Miami International Airport, with a ground stop also put in place, an airport spokesperson confirmed.
A ground stop effectively brings airport operations to a halt, with flights prevented from departing or arriving until restrictions are lifted.
The Federal Aviation Administration has warned travellers to expect ongoing delays even after the airport reopens, with arrivals and departures expected to resume at a reduced rate.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said the aircraft struck multiple vehicles after running beyond the end of the runway.
Emergency crews responding to the crash arrived to find the plane on fire, prompting a major operation to bring the blaze under control.
About 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units were deployed to the scene and were working to extinguish the fire on Sunday afternoon, the agency said in a social media post.
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