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On January 15th, 2026, an Amazon Air Boeing 767-300F was inbound from Spokane, Washington, when it experienced a hard landing upon touchdown in San Bernardino, California. The jets suffered visible fuselage damage from photographs shared online by multiple sources.
Tracking data from FlightAware shows that the aircraft was ferried to Austin, Texas, where it is expected to be undergoing repairs. The Aviation Herald reports that the freighter is registered as N443AZ and was performing flight 8C-4340 when the mishap occurred.
Amazon Air: Investigation Ongoing
The National Transportation Safety Bureau (NTSB) opened an investigation into the mishap based on the substantial damage incurred to the airframe. Inbound from Spokane International Airport (GE), ground crews found substantial damage to the fuselage and the landing gear. Following the impact of the landing at San Bernardino Airport (SBD), the 767 freighter was able to taxi without further incident.
The 33-year-old freighter may be declared a hull loss if the repair cost exceeds the acceptable threshold on such a weary and worn aircraft. Preliminary investigation has not revealed any details about the cause of the hard landing, whether it was due to an incorrect flare by the pilot, environmental factors, or simply airframe fatigue.
Last year, Amazon air operations were reduced by Atlas Air, and the 767 freighters are now flown by multiple carriers, including Alaska Airlines and Air Transport International (ATI), which owns N443AZ. The incident at SBD was recently followed up by another mishap when an Amazon Air Airbus A330 suffered a bird strike, which triggered an engine fire shortly after takeoff from Cincinnati Airport (CVG), on January 28th.
Amazon Air has enjoyed relatively few mishaps since it first stood up in 2016, with the most recent hard landing prior to this month being in 2024. The cargo service continues to expand as the e-commerce giant is investing in more facilities and more aircraft. News4JAX reported earlier today that a new Hub is expected to open in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jacksonville Aviation Authority was quoted as remarking:
“This location represents the company’s first air cargo location in NE Florida and will further grow and support Amazon’s current logistics and distribution network in Jacksonville.”
Boeing’s Workhorse, The 767
The Boeing 767-300F now at Austin Bergstrom (AUS), awaiting repairs, was originally built for American Airlines passenger service. Like many 767s, it was converted to a freighter after a short tenure transporting travelers and has been a reliable cargo-hauler for decades. Similarly, the entire fleet of 767s that bear the Amazon Air livery averages just over 30 years of age, as data from Planespotters.net shows.
Boeing is expected to cease production of new 767 freighters by 2027 due to new emissions standards. This makes the secondary market for used 767 conversions even more critical for maintaining current capacity. Amazon Air started with a fleet of all leased aircraft, however, they have begun to transition to a greater portion of ownership, which includes a number of the 767 fleet, in order to reduce total costs and improve operational freedom.
ATI operates the lion’s share of the 59 767-300F airframes in the fleet, but Atlas Air still flies over a dozen, and the remainder are flown by a mix of other carriers. While the 767 is a workhorse, Amazon is increasingly looking to the Airbus A330-300F for future growth. These jets offer around 20% more volume and better fuel efficiency, helping Amazon phase out older models.
Vancouver Airport Officials Finally Remove Damaged Amazon Air Boeing 767-300F From Runway Area
The North Runway remains closed.
A Rough Start To 2026
Aviation experts and safety investigators are looking at these incidents as symptoms of broader trends within Amazon Air. As the e-commerce fleet transitions to a new aircraft type, it is not only diversifying the flight line but also scaling up operational capacity and tempo. Higher-density traffic at the hubs also puts more pressure on ground crew and aircrew alike alongside the fleet expansion and modernization.
The opening of more hubs will reduce the amount of long-haul flying required and spread the operational burden across more airfields as well. These two factors combined will contribute to safer operations as the pressure on every aspect of flying will be reduced. Introducing newer and better-condition airframes will also decrease maintenance and make mishaps like hard landings less likely, with the younger aircraft taking up the mantle.
