More news on this day
Nearly 24 hours after an Amazon-branded cargo jet overran a runway and crashed at Miami International Airport, killing five people and injuring five others, travelers are still confronting widespread cancellations and delays across one of the nation’s busiest international hubs.
Get the latest news straight to your inbox!
Runway closures keep operations constrained
Publicly available airport updates show that two of Miami International Airport’s four runways remain closed as of Monday, limiting capacity on what is typically one of the heaviest travel days of the Labor Day period. The closures follow Sunday’s crash of a Boeing 767 cargo aircraft operating for Amazon Air that arrived from San Juan, Puerto Rico, then overran a runway, struck multiple vehicles and ignited a major fire near the northwest corner of the airfield.
Coverage from regional outlets indicates that the initial incident triggered a full ground stop that halted all takeoffs and landings for several hours on Sunday afternoon and evening while emergency crews responded and federal investigators began documenting the scene. Once the ground stop was lifted, the airport gradually reopened two runways, but damage near the accident site and the presence of wreckage have continued to restrict how many aircraft can safely depart and arrive.
Industry-focused reporting notes that the aircraft involved was operating as an Amazon Air service under partner carrier 21 Air, part of a network that regularly funnels e-commerce cargo through Miami to and from Latin America and the Caribbean. The crash is now the subject of an investigation by federal safety agencies, a process that typically requires securing and preserving a substantial section of pavement and adjacent areas, further constraining airfield use in the short term.
Airport traffic data from recent years underscores how disruptive the loss of even one runway can be at Miami, which regularly handles more than 1,000 daily flights during peak periods. With half of its runway system still out of service, the airport is operating in a reduced-capacity mode that amplifies the impact of any additional weather or air traffic control constraints.
Dozens of cancellations and hundreds of delays
Flight-status trackers cited in local broadcast reports show that by early Monday afternoon, Miami International Airport had logged around 70 to 80 cancellations and well over 250 delays tied to the cascading effects of Sunday’s shutdown and Monday’s capacity limits. These figures have been shifting throughout the day as airlines rework schedules, reposition aircraft and crews, and attempt to clear backlogs.
Local television coverage on Monday morning described at least several dozen canceled domestic flights and a growing list of delayed arrivals and departures, with numbers climbing as the day progressed. Some airlines appear to be proactively canceling select services in order to consolidate passengers on remaining flights, a strategy that can reduce congestion at gates but leaves many travelers searching for alternatives.
Travel-focused analysis points out that the disruptions are not limited to Miami-originating trips. The ripple effects extend across airline networks, affecting connecting passengers and causing knock-on delays at other airports where aircraft destined for Miami are held, rerouted or return to gates. Online discussions among travelers suggest that some flights headed to Miami on Sunday were diverted to other hubs including Charlotte, while others remained on the ground at origin airports during the ground stop.
For airlines, the challenge is compounded by the timing. The incident struck near the tail end of the Labor Day weekend, when aircraft are heavily utilized and spare capacity to absorb disrupted passengers is limited. As a result, even travelers whose flights are still operating are frequently encountering longer lines, tighter connections and last-minute gate changes.
Labor Day travelers scramble for alternate routes
Reports from Miami-based newsrooms and traveler accounts on social platforms describe long queues at airline counters and customer service desks on both Sunday and Monday as passengers attempt to rebook. Some travelers stranded by cancellations at Miami are opting to buy last-minute tickets out of nearby airports such as Fort Lauderdale, while others are extending hotel stays in South Florida or adjusting vacation and business plans.
One regional television piece highlighted a passenger originally scheduled to return home on Sunday who faced an unexpected overnight stay and was weighing the cost of purchasing a new one-way ticket from another airport after their original Miami departure failed to materialize. Similar situations are playing out across the terminal, with many travelers reporting added expenses for lodging, ground transportation and rebooked flights.
Consumer advocates often recommend that passengers in such scenarios first confirm whether their airline has issued a formal travel waiver, which can allow itinerary changes without standard change fees or fare differences. According to airline advisories referenced in public reports, several carriers serving Miami have begun offering flexible rebooking options for customers whose trips were directly affected by the crash-related disruptions.
Given the congestion in call centers and at in-person counters, travel commentators are encouraging affected passengers to use airline mobile apps or websites where possible to modify travel plans, then arrive at the airport earlier than usual if their flights remain scheduled to operate. With security checkpoints and boarding areas busier than on a typical Monday, even on-time flights are seeing heavier crowds.
Investigation and recovery efforts continue
National and local news coverage indicates that federal investigators have begun gathering data on the crash, including flight recorder information, air traffic control communications and detailed measurements from the accident site. Early descriptions of the event suggest that the cargo jet touched down but failed to stop on the runway, overrunning the pavement and crossing a perimeter area before coming to rest and catching fire.
The death toll, reported as at least five people killed and five injured, includes individuals both on board the aircraft and in vehicles impacted beyond the runway area. Several of the injured were described in published reports as being in critical condition as of Monday morning. The severity of the impact and fire has left a wide debris field that must be cleared methodically to protect potential evidence.
Airport statements summarized in media reports emphasize that safety assessments around the damaged runway and adjacent areas are ongoing, and that any decisions on reopening additional infrastructure will depend on the progress of investigative and recovery work. Historically, similar runway overrun investigations have taken many months to reach formal conclusions, even after the physical cleanup at an airport is complete.
Aviation analysts note that Miami has experienced serious cargo incidents before, including the 1997 Fine Air Flight 101 crash shortly after takeoff, which prompted changes in cargo loading and safety practices. The latest accident is expected to draw renewed attention to runway safety at high-traffic international gateways and the protocols for handling arrivals during periods of intense weather or operational pressure.
What travelers using Miami should expect next
Travel advisories published on Monday urge passengers scheduled to use Miami International Airport over the next several days to closely monitor flight status and build extra time into their journeys. With two runways closed and heavy post-holiday demand, delays are likely to persist even after the most severely affected flights from Sunday and Monday are addressed.
According to coverage that draws on data from flight-tracking services, Monday’s disruption totals already place Miami among the U.S. airports with the highest number of day-of delays and cancellations. If afternoon thunderstorms or other routine weather patterns develop in South Florida, as often happens in early September, operational margins could tighten further.
Airlines commonly respond to this type of constraint by temporarily reducing frequencies on less critical routes, swapping in larger aircraft on core corridors to consolidate passengers, or rerouting some flights through other hubs. For travelers, that can mean longer layovers, rebookings onto indirect itineraries, or in some cases overnight stays.
Public guidance from the airport and airlines summarized in local reporting consistently highlights a few key steps for passengers: verify flight status before leaving for the airport, update contact information so carriers can send notifications, and be prepared for evolving gate assignments. With the investigation still in its early stages and infrastructure repairs ahead, normal operations at Miami may take several days to fully stabilize.
CBS News Miami coverage of MIA delays and cancellations
Local 10 Miami reporting on ongoing disruptions