Amazon calls timeout on 21 Air cargo contract

Amazon has temporarily suspended business with 21 Air after one of the Boeing 767-300 converted freighter aircraft operated by the contract carrier overran the runway at Miami airport on Sept. 6 and struck two vehicles, killing five people and injuring several others, FreightWaves has confirmed.

“Safety has always been our top priority, whether in our own operations or when we’re working with partners. After the tragic incident last weekend, we’ve spent time supporting the investigation and reviewing some of the surrounding circumstances, and we’ve decided to pause our operations with 21 Air, the operator of Flight 7598.

We’ll continue working to support the investigation and everyone affected,” said Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel in a statement. Although Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) indicated it has simply called timeout while authorities investigate the accident and it assesses 21 Air’s safety protocols, it’s possible that Amazon could eventually cut ties with 21 Air.

The decision to stop moving parcels and freight on aircraft operated by 21 Air will have little, if any, impact on customers, another person at the company, who asked not to be identified, said. The expectation suggests the pause could be short or that Amazon’s logistics arm will be able to rely on its existing staff to pick up the slack for 21 Air. window.

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display('div-gpt-ad-1709668545404-0'); }); The Greensboro, North Carolina- based carrier has been flying for Amazon since mid-2024 and operated seven 767-300s for the retailer.

Two cargo airline executives contacted by FreightWaves said they expect Amazon to turn to ABX Air and Air Transport International, both of which are owned by Air Transport Services Group, and already operate large fleets of Boeing 767 cargo jets on Amazon’s behalf, to fill in any gaps in its network.

A former Amazon logistics executive said the retailer could have difficulty replacing the 21 Air lift by the peak shipping season, which starts in late October. “This could just be a safety standdown while they evaluate the relationship and understand the safety programs at 21Air,” the person said.

Pilots at cargo airlines are already flying more hours per day during the busy shipping period than earlier in the year, so even if carriers had extra aircraft they probably don’t have the pilots to fly them. The Wall Street Journal first reported on Sunday that Amazon had distanced itself from 21 Air for the time being.

21 Air continues to operate four Boeing 757 narrowbody and five 767 medium widebody freighters for DHL Express. DHL did not respond to a query on Monday about whether DHL is reconsidering its relationship with 21 Air. Amazon leases nearly all of its aircraft and supplies them to airlines that provide crew, maintenance and insurance to operate them.

Severing ties with 21 Air would mean transferring the planes to another carrier, but the process of moving a group of aircraft from one airline’s operating license to another would likely take close to a year to complete, according to aviation experts. And any operator getting the aircraft would have to hire and train more pilots. window. googletag = window.

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display('div-gpt-ad-1665767553440-0'); }); Data released by the National Transportation Safety Board showed that Flight 7598 had a more aggressive descent than normal during its approach to Miami airport, but then flattened its approach and didn’t touch down fully until a half mile beyond the runway aiming markings at 158 knots.

At 23 seconds before the last recorded flight data, the pilots applied the brakes at 146 knots at the the point where most planes are using exits to the taxiway. Four seconds later, at 134 knots, the pilots finally get the third landing gear on the ground, but they are running out of pavement.

The pilots push the throttle in a failed attempt at a go-around, then return the throttle to idle and reapply the