Joseph Carroll, 55, has been identified as the pilot of the Amazon cargo plane involved in the deadly crash at Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida. Carroll survived the accident and was treated for injuries following the aircraft’s runway overrun, while five people on the ground were killed.
The crash happened Sunday when Amazon Air Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-33A operated by 21 Air LLC, overran Runway 30 while landing at Miami International Airport. The aircraft had arrived from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and subsequently traveled approximately 1,300 feet beyond the paved runway before striking vehicles and other objects.
Joseph Carroll Survives Miami Cargo Plane Crash
Carroll was flying the Amazon cargo aircraft alongside co-pilot Jaime Felipe Silva Molina, 37. Both pilots survived the crash and were transported to a Miami hospital for treatment before being released, according to officials and current reporting.
The survival of both pilots has been an important part of the developing investigation, as federal authorities work to establish exactly what happened during the aircraft’s final approach and landing.
Witness accounts described a chaotic scene following the crash, with smoke and flames visible around the aircraft. One witness told CBS Miami that he encountered a person believed to be the pilot shortly after the crash and described him as shaken and suffering minor injuries.
Five People Killed in the Crash
While Carroll and the co-pilot survived, the crash proved fatal for five people who were in vehicles struck by the aircraft.
The victims were identified as Rolando Aleman Leon, 55; Yoel Rodriguez Naranjo, 53; Julio C. Pineda, 75; Carlos Acosta Fajardo, 53; and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo, 47. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, all five people killed were occupants of vehicles struck by the aircraft rather than people aboard the plane.
The aircraft first struck airport navigation equipment and a Ford Econoline van belonging to Professional Ocean Service Corporation, a company providing cleaning services for airlines. Seven people were inside the van at the time. The plane then breached the airport perimeter and struck a Toyota Corolla Cross traveling on Northwest 67th Avenue.
NTSB Investigates Cause of Crash
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the crash. Investigators have recovered both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder and are examining the aircraft’s performance, weather conditions, runway environment, air traffic control and the actions of the flight crew.
Initial discussion has focused on challenging weather, including thunderstorms and changing winds, as well as the aircraft’s landing performance. However, authorities have not determined a probable cause, and investigators continue to analyze evidence before reaching conclusions.
Remembering Those Lost
The Miami cargo plane crash has left families grieving while investigators continue working to understand the sequence of events that led to the runway overrun.
For Joseph Carroll and his co-pilot, surviving the crash has provided an important contrast to the devastating loss experienced by the people on the ground. Carroll’s injuries were serious enough to require hospital treatment, but current reports indicate that he was released.
The NTSB investigation is expected to provide further answers about the crash, including what happened during the aircraft’s approach and why the Boeing 767 was unable to stop within the runway area. Until that investigation is complete, speculation about responsibility or the precise cause should be avoided.