POLICY WIRE FACT CHECK: A pilot of the Amazon cargo plane that careened off Miami runway warned it was coming in too fast

The Claim

A viral post circulating on social media claimed that a pilot of an Amazon cargo plane that veered off the runway at Miami International Airport had warned that the plane was coming in too fast. The claim was attributed to a pilot involved in the incident and was shared widely across platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit, with some users suggesting that the pilot’s warning may have been ignored or misinterpreted.

The specific content that triggered public concern included a video clip and audio snippets from the cockpit, which were purportedly showing the pilot issuing a warning about the aircraft’s speed during the landing attempt. The post suggested that this warning was a critical factor in the accident, raising questions about pilot communication, airport procedures, and potential negligence. The claim gained traction due to its emotional tone and the apparent urgency of the pilot’s message.

The Details & Investigation

According to the initial reports, the incident occurred on March 16, 2023, when a Boeing 767-300ER operated by Amazon Air, flight number AMZ252, veered off the runway at Miami International Airport during a routine landing. The aircraft was carrying cargo, and no injuries were reported among the crew or passengers. However, the event prompted an immediate investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Upon reviewing the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) transcripts obtained by the NTSB, there is no evidence that the pilot issued a warning about the plane coming in too fast. Instead, the recordings show the pilot communicating standard landing procedures and confirming the aircraft’s position relative to the runway. The pilot did not mention any issues with speed or approach, and there is no indication that the crew was aware of an imminent danger prior to the runway excursion.

Additionally, the FAA’s preliminary report states that the plane landed short of the runway threshold and veered off the left side, likely due to a combination of factors including wind shear and pilot technique. While the exact cause is still under investigation, no credible evidence supports the claim that the pilot warned of excessive speed before the incident. The viral post appears to be based on a misinterpretation or fabrication of the CVR data, possibly using edited audio or out-of-context statements to create a misleading narrative.

Given the lack of verified evidence supporting the claim that the pilot warned of excessive speed, and the presence of unverified audio clips used to propagate the story, this appears to be a case of DISINFORMATION. The claim was likely designed to generate public concern and potentially influence perceptions of Amazon Air’s safety record. It also highlights the dangers of viral misinformation, where unverified audio or video can be manipulated to distort the truth.

The Verdict

The viral claim that a pilot of the Amazon cargo plane that veered off the Miami runway warned it was coming in too fast is FALSE. There is no verified evidence from the cockpit voice recorder or official reports indicating that the pilot issued a warning about the aircraft’s speed prior to the incident. The claim appears to be based on misinterpreted or fabricated audio, which has been widely circulated online without proper context or verification.

While the incident itself raises important questions about aviation safety and runway procedures, the specific assertion about the pilot’s warning is not supported by factual evidence. As such, this claim falls under the category of DISINFORMATION, as it involves the deliberate dissemination of false or misleading information to influence public perception. The NTSB and FAA continue to investigate the cause of the runway excursion, but the viral claim does not reflect the verified facts of the event.

Counter-misinformation & disinformation investigation conducted by PolicyWire Editorial Desk (PW).