Air traffic controllers at Miami International Airport confirmed a cargo plane had overshot the runway in a nine-word message after an Amazon freighter left the paved surface on Sunday afternoon. A ground vehicle reported to the tower: “Looks like we have an aircraft overran the runway.”

The Boeing 767-300, operating as Prime Air flight 7598 from San Juan in Puerto Rico, overran Runway 30 at about 2pm local time. It crossed a perimeter road, struck multiple vehicles and came to rest in a field at the northwest end of the airport before catching fire. Thick black smoke poured from the wreckage.

The brief radio exchange marked the first official report of the incident. Controllers immediately closed the runway and initiated emergency procedures.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said more than 60 units responded after the aircraft overran the runway and hit vehicles. Crews arrived to find the plane on fire with heavy flames and smoke.

Multiple patients were being treated at the scene. Details of the injuries were not immediately available and no fatalities had been confirmed.

All runways and taxiways were closed. A ground stop was imposed, grounding arrivals and departures at the busy hub. Airport officials advised passengers to check with their airlines before travelling to the terminal.

Significant delays were expected once operations resumed.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the freighter overran the runway after landing and said it would investigate. The aircraft was flown by 21 Air on behalf of Amazon. The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The incident disrupted one of the United States’ major passenger and cargo airports, a key gateway between Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The National Transportation Safety Board was expected to join the investigation into the cause of the overrun.