Attorneys Identify Pilot Pairing Deficiency as Critical Factor in Fatal Amazon Cargo Crash

Attorneys for the victim’s family in the fatal Amazon cargo crash allege that insufficient pilot experience and an ill-conceived pairing were key factors in the deadly incident. In the wake of preliminary findings from federal investigators pointing to possible pilot error, the legal representatives have condemned the company and its operator, arguing the accident was entirely preventable.

Lopez-Trigo and Padron, representing the sons of Julio Pineda—75, who died when the cargo jet overshot the runway, breached the airport perimeter, and struck his van—stated that Pineda was among five fatalities. “Despite his previous experience with military aircraft, this is a completely different animal,” Lopez-Trigo said. “It’s a completely different plane.”

Victims Identified in Fatal Amazon Cargo Jet Crash at Miami Airport

Investigators assess a crushed white van struck during the cargo jet crash. (National Transportation Safety Board / Fox News)

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the captain had accumulated 150 flight hours piloting a Boeing 767 out of approximately 7,267 total flight hours. The first officer had roughly 800 hours operating the same model from a total of about 2,800 flight hours. Regulators confirmed the two pilots had never flown together prior to the day of the crash. Attorneys assert this pairing violated standard crew coordination protocols.

“One of the most blaring things has to do with the credentials of the pilots, the pairing of the pilots, and why they were chosen to be paired together for that flight, having never flown together previously until that day,” Lopez-Trigo said.

Amazon Cargo Plane Overruns Miami Airport Runway, Strikes Multiple Vehicles; 5 Dead, 5 Injured

The first officer repeatedly cautioned the captain about excessive speed during approach, yet the captain failed to respond appropriately, even as the aircraft triggered multiple automated warning-system alerts.

“They didn’t just miss once, twice, or three times — they missed more than five or six times mandatory go-arounds where they could have prevented this,” Padron said.

Attorneys claim the flight crew committed several critical errors during landing, including approaching the runway at excessive speed and altitude, and failing to deploy essential deceleration systems.

“The reverse thrusters were never applied in order to be able to safely land the plane,” Lopez-Trigo said.

Aerial view showing the long debris path and perimeter damage from the runway overrun. (National Transportation Safety Board / Fox News)

Padron and Lopez-Trigo asserted that 21 Air is liable for inadequate crew-pairing policies, insufficient vetting and training, and placing under-experienced pilots into rotation. The attorneys further criticized Amazon, claiming the company failed to properly vet 21 Air’s safety standards and crew-qualification policies before hiring the carrier, calling the oversight an egregious error. Lopez-Trigo emphasized that multiple parties bear individual liability, creating a domino effect from point A to the catastrophic crash at point B.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators inspect the burn damage around the engine of the Amazon Air Boeing 767 cargo plane. (National Transportation Safety Board / Fox News)

As a result of the incident, the Pineda family lost a beloved member in an instant, the attorneys said. “This is a situation where somebody who was extremely important to them was taken away in a second. And so they’re extremely sad. They want answers,” Lopez-Trigo said.

In a statement to Fox Business, Amazon expressed that the loss of life and injuries from the incident weighs heavily on all involved. “Our hearts continue to be with the families and loved ones of those who died or were injured, and with the entire Miami-Dade community. We remain committed to supporting the NTSB’s ongoing investigation and ask that any questions related to it be directed to them,” said spokesperson Kelly Nantel.

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