Wife Discovered Husband’s Death Online After Unread Texts Following Amazon Jet Crash

POLICY WIRE — Miami, United States — Five plane cleaners lost their lives when an Amazon cargo jet collided with their vehicle at Miami International Airport, according to a statement from one of the victims’ attorneys.

The incident occurred as the aircraft attempted to land, then veered off the runway. Two other workers were hospitalized following the collision, with one remaining in critical condition.

Yoel Rodriguez Naranjo, a 53-year-old immigrant from Cuba, was working a 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. shift for Professional Ocean Service Corp. His wife sent repeated texts when he did not return home on time, only to discover his death through an online news story, as her messages went unread.

Naranjo’s attorney, Jorge Garcia, described him as a dedicated worker who was deeply loved by his family. He filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Amazon, 21 Air, and the pilots involved in the crash.

The victims included Rolando Aleman Leon, 55; Julio C. Pineda, 75; Carlos Acosta Fajardo, 53; and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo, 47. Survivors Ridoel Averhoff Diaz, 32, and Roosevelt Sebastian Perdomo Torres, 36, remained in critical condition.

Professional Ocean Service Corp., which has provided cleaning services at the airport for over 15 years, released a statement expressing deep sorrow for the loss of its employees, calling them ‘family.’ The company handles both interior and exterior cleaning of commercial and private jets.

A retired airline captain and attorney, Soma Priddle, described the working conditions as grueling, with crews facing harsh chemicals, tight deadlines, and minimal compensation. Manny Pastreich of the 32BJ Service Employees International Union noted that many workers earn near-minimum wage without benefits, highlighting the difficult nature of the job.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)