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The deadly Boeing 767 cargo crash at 
Miami International Airport (MIA) is putting renewed scrutiny on 21 Air, the North Carolina-based carrier that operated the Amazon Prime Air flight, as former employees describe years of alleged safety concerns and investigators examine how the company worked with Amazon. The September 6 crash killed five people after the aircraft overran Runway 30, crossed airport boundaries, and struck vehicles on the ground. Five others were injured.
The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary findings have also raised questions about the flight crew’s handling of an unstable landing. The 767 touched down at 158 knots, or roughly 182 mph, and the crew briefly increased engine power in what investigators say was consistent with an attempted go-around. The throttles were then reduced, braking resumed, and the aircraft continued beyond the runway. The NTSB found no indication that speed brakes or thrust reversers were deployed before the recording ended.
Former 21 Air Employees Had Raised Safety Concerns
The crash has brought attention to allegations made by former 21 Air employees well before the Miami accident. According to documents reviewed by NPR and CBS News, former pilots and safety personnel alleged that management discouraged employees from reporting safety issues, pressured crews regarding rest requirements, and failed to address operational problems. Karl Seuring, a veteran pilot and former president of 21 Air’s pilot union, alleged that he was dismissed in 2022 after raising concerns about the company’s safety standards. His complaint ultimately reached a Department of Labor proceeding. Another former employee, Don Helmig, who served as a safety director, wrote to the company’s owner in 2021 that he had found problems throughout the operation and accused leadership of treating safety procedures as little more than a formality.
“We anticipated and we feared [an accident]. And we knew the day would come, and there wasn’t anything we could do”
– Karl Seuring to NPR
Other allegations included concerns about pilot experience, communication, maintenance, and the amount of time crews received between flights. The claims remain allegations, rather than established findings against 21 Air. The company has disputed accusations that it discouraged safety reporting and has said it follows applicable regulations and maintains appropriate operational procedures.
Amazon’s Contractor Model Is Now Under Scrutiny
The controversy extends beyond 21 Air because the aircraft was operating within Amazon’s Prime Air network. Amazon uses multiple outside carriers rather than operating its entire cargo fleet itself. NPR reported that Amazon currently contracts with nine airlines operating more than 100 aircraft, with 21 Air responsible for eight aircraft in the network. That arrangement is drawing questions about how Amazon evaluates the safety performance and internal culture of contracted operators. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said investigators intend to examine the relationship between Amazon and 21 Air, including what responsibilities each company has and what safety provisions are contained in their contracts and policies. Amazon has defended the structure, saying contracting with certified air carriers is standard practice throughout the aviation industry. The company also said it takes allegations involving safety seriously, including claims that predate its relationship with 21 Air.
Crash Investigation Is Ongoing
Despite the growing scrutiny, investigators have not concluded that 21 Air’s previous safety allegations caused the Miami crash. The NTSB investigation remains focused on the sequence of events during the approach, landing performance, aircraft systems, weather, crew decisions, and other possible contributing factors. The preliminary flight-data findings show that one pilot warned the aircraft was traveling too fast during the approach. After touchdown, the aircraft briefly received go-around thrust, but the maneuver was abandoned. Brakes were reapplied while the aircraft was still traveling at 117 knots, and the recording ended at 65 knots.
The NTSB is also examining the aircraft itself, a 767-33A manufactured in 1994, as well as its maintenance and operational history. Both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder have been recovered, giving investigators more than two hours of cockpit audio and approximately 54 hours of flight data. For Amazon, the investigation could have consequences beyond determining why Flight 7598 failed to stop. Regulators and investigators are now positioned to examine whether the safeguards surrounding outsourced cargo operations are sufficient, particularly when concerns about an individual contractor’s safety culture have been raised before a fatal accident.
