Amazon Prime Air cargo plane crashes with 3 people aboard in Southeast Texas
A cargo jetliner operating for Amazon Prime Air crashed with three people on board into Trinity Bay near Anahuac, Texas, while approaching Houston, on Saturday.
On Sunday, the airline, Atlas Air, confirmed the three people did not survive the crash.
"It is with great sadness that Atlas Air Worldwide has confirmed that the three people on board Atlas Air Flight 3591 did not survive the accident on Saturday, February 23, 2019, in Anahuac, Texas," the company said.
"Everyone within the company is deeply saddened by this event," Atlas Air said in a statement. "Our main priority at this time is caring for those affected and we will ensure we do all we can to support them now and in the days and weeks to come."
Amazon unveiled its first branded cargo plane in 2016. One of 40 freighters that will make up the company's own air transportation network of 40 Boeing jets leased from Atlas Air and Air Transportation Services Group, which will operate the air cargo network. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
The Boeing 767 crashed about 30 miles southeast of Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Chambers County, Texas, at about 12:45 p.m. local time, according to The Daily Beast.
The cause of the crash is still being investigated, but AccuWeather meteorologists suggest weather could be to blame.
"There were a few showers with gusty winds in the vicinity of Houston at the time of the crash. While an investigation needs to take place, these were around the area and could have been a factor in the crash," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alan Reppert said.
The plane was flying from Miami to Houston.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lost radar and radio contact with the flight shortly before it crashed. The plane was located at the north end of Trinity Bay near Galveston.
Amazon released the following statement:
Our thoughts and prayers are with the flight crew, their families and friends along with the entire team at Atlas Air during this terrible tragedy. We appreciate the first responders who worked urgently to provide support.
Atlas Air also sent the following statement in response to the crash:
This is to confirm that an Atlas Air 767 cargo aircraft Flight No. 3591 operating from Miami to Houston has been involved in an accident this afternoon. We understand the aircraft went down near the city of Anahuac, Texas, in the Trinity Bay. We can confirm there were three people on board the aircraft. Those people and their family members are our top priority at this time. Atlas Air is cooperating fully with the FAA and NTSB. We will update as additional information becomes available.
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