Over the weekend, a devastating incident transpired at Miami Airport (MIA) involving a Boeing 767 operated by 21 Air for Amazon Air. The plane went off the runway and struck two vehicles, leading to the deaths of five individuals. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is looking into the matter and has disclosed initial findings from the cockpit voice recorder.
The cockpit voice recorder indicated major problems with crew resource management (CRM) during the final moments of the flight. Observations noted numerous requests for flap adjustments, alerts regarding overspeed, and a failure to provide consistent verbal acknowledgments to these alerts. The autopilot was turned off, and various electronic notifications denoted issues like “sink rate” and “too low terrain.”
The flying pilot was a 55-year-old former Army Black Hawk captain, while the communication responsibilities were managed by the 37-year-old first officer. Despite the first officer’s alerts about overspeed, the captain did not consistently respond to these warnings. The aircraft was in the process of being prepared for landing on the runway, with a “too low terrain” alert being activated just before the landing.
This incident reveals serious shortcomings in airmanship and decision-making. The captain, who was relatively unseasoned on the Boeing 767, disregarded crucial warnings and did not perform a go-around. The first officer, even after acknowledging the risk, failed to initiate a go-around, which raises concerns about the training and safety culture at 21 Air.
The accident highlights the critical need for effective CRM and the necessity for thorough pilot training programs. As the investigation proceeds, there will likely be intensified oversight on 21 Air’s operational practices. This event serves as a powerful reminder of the potential repercussions of insufficient training and communication within aviation.