Tesla Cybercabs Narrowly Miss Deadly Amazon Cargo Plane Crash
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue has not confirmed if any Cybercabs were among the multiple vehicles struck by the Boeing 767.
An Amazon Prime Air cargo jet crashed at Miami International Airport on Sunday afternoon, coming to rest just meters from a staging lot containing dozens of Tesla Cybercabs. The incident, which resulted in five fatalities and five injuries, has drawn attention to the proximity of Tesla’s new robotaxi fleet to the accident site.
What Happened
The Boeing 767, operated by 21 Air as Flight 7598, arrived from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and touched down around 2 p.m. before overrunning the runway. According to the Associated Press, the aircraft crossed the airport perimeter, plowed across NW 67th Avenue, and struck multiple vehicles before catching fire. Visual evidence from the scene shows the jet’s nose stopped within meters of a fenced lot holding gold-painted Cybercabs, the steering-wheel-free vehicles Tesla began testing on public roads in Austin last week. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue confirmed the plane hit multiple vehicles but has not specified if Cybercabs were among them.
Why It Matters
The crash places Tesla’s newest autonomous vehicle near a high-profile tragedy just days after its Austin debut, a launch that already faces federal scrutiny. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an audit into how Tesla certified the Cybercab’s compliance with safety standards, focusing on the absence of a steering wheel and pedals. While the FAA and NTSB are investigating the plane’s cause—flight data indicates a landing speed of approximately 170 knots, exceeding the typical 135 to 140 knot range—the status of the parked Cybercabs remains unclear. Tesla’s Robotaxi operation in Miami currently relies on modified Model Y vehicles, as the Cybercabs had not yet entered commercial service in the city.
The Bottom Line
Tesla has not issued a statement regarding the fleet’s status, and it remains unknown whether any Cybercabs were damaged. Investigators are focusing on the aircraft, leaving the impact on the parked autonomous vehicles as an open question.
