The widow of Yoel Rodriguez Naranjo, the van driver killed when an Amazon Prime Air cargo plane overran a runway at Miami International Airport, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit. The legal action reportedly names Amazon, the aircraft operator 21 Air, and the two pilots as defendants. It alleges that several preventable operational and flight management failures directly contributed to the fatal crash.
This complaint contains allegations that must be evaluated in court, as legal liability has not been decided. The tragic incident shows why a fatal aviation accident may involve several companies, individuals, and overlapping civil claims, especially when the person killed was working on airport grounds during the crash.
We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident and the loss of life. You can learn more about filing a wrongful death claim after a fatal crash.
What Happened in the Miami Amazon Cargo Plane Crash
On September 6, a Boeing 767-300 cargo jet operating as Flight 7598 traveled 1,300 feet past the paved runway at Miami International Airport. The aircraft smashed through the perimeter fence and struck an Econoline van transporting seven cleaning crew members on airport grounds. The plane also hit an SUV outside the airport, resulting in a complex fire and severe structural wreckage.
Five individuals on the ground were killed, and five others sustained injuries. Public reporting confirms that Yoel Rodriguez Naranjo was driving the van for an airport interior cleaning company when the aircraft struck the vehicle. Four of his co-workers in the van also lost their lives in the crash.
This tragic event cut short the life of a hard-working husband and father who arrived in the United States in 2011. His surviving family members now face enormous emotional and financial burdens. Families affected by catastrophic airplane accidents often face complex legal processes while grieving.
What Does the Widow’s Wrongful Death Lawsuit Allege
The lawsuit reportedly alleges that the fatal crash resulted from multiple failures involving flight management, pilot decision-making, crew training, aircraft maintenance, and speed-reduction systems. It seeks to hold the named parties responsible for Naranjo’s death accountable under Florida law.
The defendants named in the complaint include Amazon, aircraft operator 21 Air, flight leasing and acquisition entities, and pilots Captain Joseph Carroll and First Officer Jaime Felipe Silva Molina. The suit alleges that the pilots executed a high-speed approach and failed to abort the landing in a timely manner.
According to the allegations, recorded flight data shows that the flight crew never deployed the aircraft speed brakes or thrust reversers. The filing further alleges that 21 Air and Amazon failed to ensure adequate crew coordination, pilot training, and operational safety oversight.
Filing a formal complaint begins the civil court litigation process. The named defendants may dispute these allegations, assert legal defenses, or identify other potentially responsible entities.
What Have Federal Investigators Reported So Far
The National Transportation Safety Board is actively investigating the crash and has not issued a final probable-cause determination. Federal investigators caution that preliminary investigative details can change as new evidence undergoes analysis.
Preliminary agency reports state that one pilot warned that the jet was flying too fast about one minute prior to touchdown. Automated cockpit alarms sounded repeatedly, issuing sink-rate and terrain warnings as the aircraft descended rapidly.
A pilot attempted a go-around maneuver 15 seconds after touchdown, but throttles were reduced back to idle four seconds later. Recorded data did not show deployment of the speed brakes or thrust reversers.
Investigators recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder for laboratory evaluation. The investigative team is evaluating crew training, aircraft components, airport surface conditions, and the absence of an Engineered Materials Arresting System at the runway end.
Why Can Several Parties Be Named in an Aviation Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Determining legal responsibility in a cargo jet accident requires examining several distinct operational roles. A full investigation considers who operated the flight, employed the crew, maintained the aircraft structure, controlled flight operations, and owed safety duties to ground workers.
The aircraft operator and flight crew face potential scrutiny over flight management and real-time operational decisions. Contracting brands or logistics companies associated with a flight may be investigated, but a commercial relationship or logo alone does not establish legal liability.
Third-party maintenance providers, aircraft leasing companies, or component manufacturers could become relevant if factual evidence links their actions to the accident. However, the current lawsuit filing targets specific entities named in the court record.
Attorneys and investigators analyze contracts, flight logs, maintenance records, and electronic telemetry to clarify each entity’s role. This deep review helps determine which parties exercised operational control over the aircraft.
Workers’ compensation death benefits and third-party wrongful death lawsuits represent separate legal remedies under Florida law. Benefits received through workers’ compensation may create statutory subrogation liens against third-party civil recoveries.
What Damages May Be Available in a Florida Wrongful Death Case
Under Florida Statute § 768.20, a wrongful death lawsuit must be brought by the personal representative of the decedent’s estate. The personal representative seeks financial recovery on behalf of eligible surviving family members and the estate itself.
Florida Statute § 768.21 outlines recoverable damages, which may include lost financial support, loss of companionship, mental pain and suffering, and funeral costs. Specific recovery options depend on the legal relationship between the survivor and the deceased individual. You can find additional details regarding statutory rights on our wrongful death lawsuit overview page.
Speak With Panter, Panter and Sampedro After an Aviation Accident
Aviation accidents cause severe loss of life, devastating injuries, and overwhelming financial burdens for surviving families. Our personal injury attorneys work one-on-one with injured individuals and grieving families to successfully secure justice and fair compensation. We examine operational records, identify responsible entities, and evaluate all available insurance policies.
Our family has protected South Florida families for over 30 years. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no legal fees unless we win your case. Call Panter, Panter & Sampedro today at (305) 662-6178 for a free consultation with an attorney.
Sources.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article317183206.html
https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/768.20
https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/768.21
https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/95.11
