At least five people are dead after an Amazon cargo plane barrelled off the runway at Miami airport and smashed into cars, bursting into flames and sending thick black smoke into the sky.

Prime Air ‌Flight 7598 overran the airport’s diagonal runway at about 2pm on Sunday (4am Monday AEST) and was disabled at the airport’s north-west end, officials said.

Five people were killed, three critically injured and two others hospitalised with less severe injuries, Miami-Dade County officials said.

The crash shut down flights at one of the busiest US airports. More than 60 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded, arriving to find the aircraft on fire as crews worked to extinguish the flames and assess patients.

Amazon and the Miami-Dade Aviation Department confirmed that an incident occurred as the plane was trying ‌to land.

All runways ‌and taxiways ⁠at the Miami airport were closed as of 3pm EDT. Travellers should “expect significant delays and potential cancellations”, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a post on X.

National Public Radio, citing Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, reported “multiple patients” from the incident.

The plane was a Boeing 767-300 that had departed ⁠from San Juan, Puerto Rico, according to ‌the US ​Federal Aviation Administration. Cargo airline 21 Air operated the plane for Amazon, an ​Amazon spokesperson said.

The cargo airline did not immediately respond to an ​email seeking comment.

Photos after the crash showed the jet with its nose on the ground and tail tilted up. The right ​side ​of the plane had what appeared ​to be scorch marks.

“We’ve issued a full ground stop at Miami International while first responders assess the scene after an Amazon cargo plane overran the runway,” Duffy said.

Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said the company was still ‌gathering details about what happened.

“We’re working closely with local authorities and officials to understand exactly what happened,” she said.

“Right now, our absolute priority is the safety, well-being, and care of everyone involved.”

The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said streets had been closed and passengers should expect delays.

The ​FAA said it would investigate the crash.

-with AP