Operator of Crashed Prime Air 767 Faced Safety Concerns

Former employees have reported lax safety procedures and discouragement to report issues by ownership.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, September 09, 2026 at 01:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The NTSB on Tuesday shared this image of the 767 cargo jet's flight data recorder. [Credit: NTSB]

Key Takeaways:

The NTSB is actively investigating a Boeing 767 cargo plane crash at Miami International Airport that killed five people, with initial flight data revealing a late go-around attempt and non-deployment of critical braking systems.
The investigation is complicated by allegations from former 21 Air employees claiming a history of lax safety procedures, deferred maintenance, and retaliation against staff who raised concerns.
NTSB will combine flight recorder data with crew interviews and also examine airport safety protocols, including the absence of an Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS) on the overrun runway.

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National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said Tuesday that she did not “know anything” about “reports of safety concerns” she has seen involving 21 Air—the operator of a Boeing 767-33A that crashed Sunday at Miami International Airport (KMIA), killing five people.

Since Homendy’s news briefing Tuesday, the second and final on-scene conference the NTSB conducted regarding the accident and investigation, former 21 Air employees have raised concerns with the operator’s allegedly lax safety procedures.