Amazon has temporarily suspended its operations with 21 Air following the fatal crash of an Amazon-branded cargo aircraft at Miami International Airport. The decision adds a new operational and reputational risk for Amazon as the company continues to rely on a broad network of contracted carriers to support its increasingly complex global delivery infrastructure.

Amazon Suspends 21 Air Operations

Amazon notified 21 Air’s leadership on Sunday that it was pausing operations with the Miami-based cargo carrier. The decision followed the September 6 crash of Amazon Prime Air Flight 7598, a Boeing 767-300 freighter operated by 21 Air. The aircraft overran the runway while landing at Miami International Airport, struck vehicles and caught fire. Five people were killed and five others were injured.

Amazon said it had spent the period following the tragedy supporting the investigation and reviewing circumstances surrounding the incident before deciding to suspend its operations with 21 Air. The company has also said it will continue cooperating with investigators and supporting those affected by the crash.

NTSB Investigation Puts Flight Decisions Under Scrutiny

The National Transportation Safety Board is examining the circumstances that led to the crash. Preliminary flight-data evidence showed that the pilots appeared to consider aborting the landing shortly after touchdown, but the maneuver was not completed. Investigators also found that the aircraft’s speed brakes and thrust reversers were not deployed before the aircraft overran the runway.

The investigation is focused on multiple factors rather than a single cause, including pilot decisions, aircraft performance and the operating procedures of 21 Air. The findings remain preliminary, and investigators have not yet determined the probable cause of the accident.

Potential Implications for Amazon’s Delivery Network

21 Air operates a fleet of 17 aircraft, with eight dedicated to Amazon, while also providing services to other customers including DHL Express. The carrier has worked with Amazon for nearly two years. The suspension therefore affects a defined part of Amazon’s air-cargo network, although Amazon has access to other carriers and transportation providers that can potentially absorb displaced capacity.

For Amazon, the larger issue is not only the immediate operational impact but also the scrutiny surrounding how contracted aviation partners are selected, monitored and managed. The company’s reliance on third-party carriers allows Amazon to expand logistics capacity without owning every aircraft involved in its network, but it also creates additional oversight requirements.

Investors will be watching the NTSB investigation, Amazon’s handling of alternative cargo capacity and any further changes to its relationships with contracted airlines. A prolonged suspension could create localized logistics costs, while broader findings about carrier safety practices could prompt Amazon to strengthen oversight across its aviation network.