21 Air, operator of plane in Miami crash, had prior safety complaints by former employees
September 8, 2026 / 3:57 PM EDT / CBS News
TL;DR
- 21 Air, the operator of the Amazon Prime Air cargo plane that crashed in Miami, killing five people, faces accusations of safety violations from former employees.
- Ex-employees claim that 21 Air managers suppressed safety reports, pushed pilots to fly without proper rest, and operated faulty planes.
- Legal documents and interviews reveal a history of safety complaints, including a pending labor tribunal case filed by a pilot alleging retaliatory firing for raising safety concerns.
- Executives were accused of paying lip service to safety procedures without implementing meaningful changes.
- The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash, but no connection to past safety issues has been determined.
- Amazon has stated it will defer to the NTSB for investigation details and to 21 Air regarding allegations predating their relationship.