The recent tragedy involving an Amazon Air cargo plane in Miami has prompted a wrongful death lawsuit from the widow of one of the five victims. The aircraft, a Boeing 767-33A operated by 21 Air, crashed on 6 September 2023, leading to a significant loss of life. In light of this incident, legal proceedings are now underway as the affected families seek accountability.
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Yaraisi Santiso Morejon, the widow of Yoel Rodríguez Naranjo, filed the suit in Miami-Dade County just days after the crash. Her lawsuit names several defendants, including Amazon, the operators of the aircraft, and the two pilots. The tragic incident, which resulted in the deaths of five individuals, is being described by the plaintiff’s legal team as not merely an accident, but the result of preventable failures.
In the legal filing, attorney John Morgan, along with his team from Morgan & Morgan, stated, “This disaster was not an unavoidable accident. It was the foreseeable and preventable result of multiple, concurrent failures.” They argue that the crash stemmed from factors such as alleged pilot error, inadequate training, and the deployment of an aircraft that has been under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The incident occurred at approximately 1:53 PM local time when Flight 7598, arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, overran the runway at Miami International Airport. The plane reportedly travelled around 1,300 feet past the designated landing area, colliding with two vehicles before breaching a perimeter fence.
The victims of this incident were identified as Rolando Aleman Leon, 55, Yoel Rodríguez Naranjo, 53, Julio C. Pineda, 75, Carlos Acosta Fajardo, 53, and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo, 47. Naranjo was in a cleaning company van that was struck by the aircraft, and his wife became aware of his fate only after seeing news reports, which must have been deeply distressing.
Morgan expressed condolences for the families affected by the crash and reinforced the commitment to seek justice. He asserted, “No one should lose their loved one this way, and we will pursue every possible avenue of justice for this family. Everyone who played a role in this horrific crash will be held accountable.”
Preliminary investigations suggest that the pilots may have hesitated during the landing process, contemplating an abort of the landing. This claim, alongside various factors identified in the suit, will likely be a focal point in the continuing investigation by the NTSB. Both Amazon and 21 Air have expressed their intent to cooperate fully with the ongoing inquiry.
In a statement regarding the incident, Kelly Nantel, a spokesperson for Amazon, conveyed the company’s deep concern for those affected. She stated, “The loss of life caused by this week’s tragedy weighs heavily on all of us at Amazon. Our hearts continue to be with the families and loved ones of those who were killed, and with the entire Miami-Dade community enduring an unimaginable time.” Nantel also indicated that Amazon leaders are actively engaging with the families impacted by the tragedy.
As the legal proceedings unfold and investigations continue, the victims’ families are left grappling with their immense loss. The NTSB’s findings will be crucial in determining the specific causes of the crash and whether any regulations or protocols were neglected. The implications of this tragic event extend far beyond the individuals involved, resonating throughout the wider Miami community and the aviation industry.
While accountability is sought through the legal system, the bereaved families will undoubtedly face challenges as they navigate their grief amid the pursuit of justice. The number of lives affected by this crash highlights the broader consequences of aviation safety and the responsibilities of those in the industry to uphold rigorous standards to prevent such tragedies in the future.