Amazon pauses work with 21 Air following Miami runway incident

Amazon announced on Wednesday that it is suspending all operations with 21 Air after a cargo aircraft veered off the runway at Miami International Airport. The incident, which occurred during a routine delivery flight, prompted an immediate safety review, NPR reported.

According to NPR, the plane – a Boeing 767‑300F operated by 21 Air – came to a stop beyond the paved surface without any reported injuries to crew members. Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board have been dispatched to determine the cause, and the airline is cooperating fully with the inquiry.

In a brief statement, Amazon said it will "pause all activities with 21 Air while the investigation proceeds," adding that the decision reflects its commitment to safety and reliability for customers and partners. The company did not disclose how many shipments were affected or the duration of the suspension.

21 Air, based in Greensboro, North Carolina, entered Amazon’s logistics network in 2024, providing supplemental capacity for the retailer’s growing air‑freight demand. The carrier operates a fleet of mid‑size freighters that transport packages from major hubs to regional distribution centers, complementing Amazon’s own fleet of Boeing 767s and 737s. Its partnership with Amazon marked a significant expansion for the regional carrier, which previously focused on charter services for other logistics firms.

Amazon’s reliance on third‑party carriers has grown as the company seeks to shorten delivery windows and compete with rivals such as FedEx and UPS. However, the rapid scaling of its air‑cargo operations has drawn scrutiny from regulators. In recent years, the Federal Aviation Administration has increased oversight of cargo operators after a series of runway overruns and cargo‑door failures across the industry. The Miami event adds to that pressure, prompting Amazon to reassess its carrier vetting processes.

The NTSB’s investigation will likely take several weeks, during which 21 Air’s aircraft will remain grounded pending clearance. Amazon has indicated that it will evaluate the findings before deciding whether to reinstate the carrier. In the meantime, the retailer is expected to shift affected shipments to its own fleet and other vetted partners to maintain its delivery promises.