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 investigating a Boeing 767 runway overrun at Miami International that killed five people, analyzing flight data and cockpit voice recorders, and interviewing the pilots.
Initial flight data analysis suggests a late go-around attempt, with brakes released and thrust increased, followed by throttles reduced and brakes reapplied in the final seconds, and no recorded deployment of speed brakes or thrust reversers.
Former employees of 21 Air, the operator of the crashed 767, have raised concerns about allegedly lax safety procedures, deferred maintenance, and retaliation for reporting issues, prompting the NTSB to solicit further information.
The investigation is also examining Miami International's safety procedures, including the absence of an Engineering Materials Arrestor System (EMAS) on Runway 30.

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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.