Five people were killed in the crash, while another five were injured
More than 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units and around 200 emergency personnel responded as firefighters battled an intense fire involving the aircraft. The accident brought operations at the busy airport to a halt for much of Sunday afternoon, with more than 160 flights cancelled and nearly 325 delayed by late in the day.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Ray Jadallah said the pilot and co-pilot were trapped inside the cockpit following the crash, while some people were also trapped in vehicles. Dramatic footage showed the plane racing beyond the runway before crashing through an area used by warehouse workers and other businesses surrounding the airport. Thick black smoke and flames could be seen rising from the aircraft as emergency crews rushed to the scene. Crews had to rescue a person who was pinned beneath a vehicle. Specialised airport firefighting units used foam to extinguish the flames, while crews continued dealing with a fuel leak several hours after the crash. Some flights were also diverted to Orlando International Airport.
Weather conditions may also form part of the investigation, with thunderstorms and wind gusts of up to 30 mph recorded in the area around the time of the crash.