U.S.
Operator of Miami cargo jet had prior employee safety complaints, records show
A Boeing 767 cargo jet operated by North Carolina-based 21 Air crashed off a Miami runway Sunday, kll five, and the airline has faced past safety complaints from former staff, legal records show. Pilots and former executives have alleged suppressed safety reports, pressure to fly without proper rest, staffing problems with English proficiency, and unairworthy aircraft; the company and a former CEO have denied retaliation and said safety procedures were followed. One pilot’s retaliation complaint was rejected by OSHA and is under appeal at a Department of Labor tribunal that began in 2023, where a former 21 Air chief pilot testified about being discouraged from logging concerns. Company leadership has disputed those accounts, and the tribunal remains pending as authorities continue investigating the crash.
More Miami-Dade County news · Request a correction or case update
All individuals mentioned in criminal allegations are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.