The Amazon cargo plane pilot who survived Sunday’s fatal crash at Miami International Airport had previously described himself as committed to “safe, efficient and high-performing flight operations”, it has emerged.
First Officer Jaime Felipe Silva Molina, 37, was at the controls of the Boeing 767-300 alongside Captain Joseph Carroll, 55, when the aircraft overran Runway 30 shortly after 2pm on Sunday 6 September.
The 21 Air aircraft, operating Amazon Prime Air Flight 7598 from San Juan, Puerto Rico, crossed beyond the runway, struck a van and a car and came to rest around 1,300ft past the paved surface. Five people on the ground were killed.
Both pilots were taken to hospital with minor injuries and have since been released, according to Miami-Dade County authorities. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash. ([ntsb.gov](https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA26MA352.aspx?utm_source=openai))
The pilot’s commitment to aviation safety
Before the crash, Silva’s LinkedIn profile said he worked in “dynamic environments where professionalism, communication and sound decision making are essential”.
“I remain committed to advancing my aviation career while contributing to safe, efficient and high-performing flight operations,” he wrote.
He also described a professional background combining technical expertise, flight operations and aviation safety, adding that he was committed to continuous improvement and teamwork.
Silva, who was born in Bogotá, said he had worked in flight instruction, passenger and cargo operations, aviation safety and aeronautical education. He identified himself as a first officer on Boeing 767-300 aircraft supporting domestic and international cargo services for Amazon Air, DHL and Cargojet.
He had studied aeronautical engineering in Colombia and was continuing his studies in aeronautical science at Miami Dade College, where he said he had only a few courses left to complete.
It was not clear when the profile was last updated.
Romantic proposal from the air
Silva’s passion for flying also featured in his relationship with his wife, Lorena Arevalo.
In March 2020, he arranged an aerial marriage proposal, taking Arevalo up in a light aircraft before directing her attention to a huge “MARRY ME” message laid out on the ground.
Video of the surprise showed Arevalo becoming tearful as she repeated “te amo” after seeing the message. The couple later posed with champagne beside the aircraft, with Arevalo displaying her engagement ring.
They married two years later. Social media photographs show the couple living in Miami’s Brickell neighbourhood, while a post from April 2025 appeared to show Arevalo with a baby bump.
Five people killed in Miami airport crash
The five people who died were named by Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz as Rolando Aleman Leon, 55; Yoel Rodriguez Naranjo, 53; Julio C Pineda, 75; Carlos Acosta Fajardo, 53; and Javierkys Reyes Quevedo, 47.
They were travelling in a van operated by Professional Ocean Service Corp, a company whose workers clean aircraft at Miami International Airport. Seven people were inside the van when it was hit.
Eugenio Corredor, 79, and Ridoel Averhoff Diaz, 32, remained in a critical condition, while Roosevelt Sebastian Perdomo Torres, 36, was in a stable condition, officials said. ([cbsnews.com](https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/amazon-cargo-plane-crash-victim-names-miami-september-2026/?utm_source=openai))
The aircraft also struck a Toyota Corolla Cross on Northwest 67th Avenue. The condition and number of people in that vehicle were not immediately clear.
Investigators said Miami International Airport does not have an Engineered Materials Arresting System at the end of the runway. The system, used at more than 120 airports across the United States, is designed to slow aircraft that run beyond the paved surface.
The NTSB said two of the airport’s four runways remained closed while investigators examined the scene. The cause of the runway overrun remains under investigation. ([ntsb.gov](https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA26MA352.aspx?utm_source=openai))
