The Boeing 767 cargo aircraft operated by Amazon Prime Air that crashed near a Miami runway on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of five individuals, was managed by 21 Air, a North Carolina-based airline. Legal documents indicate that the company has been accused by former employees of breaching safety regulations.
21 Air, which is contracted by Amazon, is owned by Jim Crane, who is also the owner of the Houston Astros, through a limited liability company. According to records and interviews with CBS News, the airline has been the subject of numerous safety complaints from senior employees who allege they faced termination for voicing these concerns.
“21 Air has a well-documented history of safety issues,” stated Karl Seuring, a pilot with over three decades of experience. He filed a legal complaint asserting that when he raised his safety concerns, a manager told him, “It’s not going to change.”
Seuring’s complaint to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding alleged retaliatory dismissal was dismissed. His subsequent appeal has led to a pending case in a Department of Labor tribunal under a federal judge, scheduled for 2023.
Along with Seuring, other former pilots at 21 Air have claimed that management suppressed safety reports, pressured crews to operate flights without adequate rest, assigned pilots who struggled with English communication skills, and allowed faulty aircraft to be used. Documentation supports these allegations.
A resignation letter from a former fighter pilot who reviewed safety policies for 21 Air in 2021 accused executives of merely “paying lip service” to safety protocols while failing to take meaningful action.
Bruce Joseph, a former chief pilot at 21 Air, testified during the tribunal that he was aware of instances where employees were discouraged from recording safety issues in the company’s system. He claimed that the safety director advised him against entering information into the safety management software until consulting with then-CEO Mike Mendez. When asked if any reports were ultimately submitted, he noted that “most of it did not.”
Joseph explained that he only managed to document some incidents after persistent efforts, indicating that he faced backlash from Mendez for doing so.
Mendez, who testified that Joseph was dismissed under difficult circumstances, refuted any allegations of retaliation and asserted his commitment to safety. “My duty is to ensure we operate a safe airline, not to harm anyone or conceal information,” he stated.
When contacted by CBS News, Mendez declined to provide further comments.
Seuring’s attorney, Michael Anello, informed the judge that another pilot, Johnny Salmonson, experienced pressure to operate flights with insufficient rest, raising significant safety concerns. Anello remarked that management’s approach led to retaliatory actions against pilots.
Seuring claimed that when he questioned the accuracy of flight plans that included safety attestations—such as the duration of pilots’ previous duties—he was instructed merely to “sign it,” as detailed in his legal complaint.
During his tribunal testimony, Seuring recounted a specific incident on April 13, 2022, when he was in the jump seat of a 21 Air Boeing 767. A mechanical malfunction caused the plane to accelerate dangerously after takeoff from Newark, New Jersey, raising safety alarms for him.
He testified that there was a “breakdown of communication” between the captain and first officer following this event, noting a lack of debriefing or discussion about the incident.
Captain David Norgren did not respond to CBS News’ request for comments regarding this matter.
Seuring also discussed an emergency diversion involving a 21 Air flight in spring 2022 from Alabama to Trinidad due to pressurization problems. He criticized the then-fleet manager, Amir Anoshiravani, for a failure to take command, stating that first officers had to step in to ensure a safe landing.
Anoshiravani denied the allegations, asserting he had never interacted with Seuring and suggesting that Seuring was harboring resentment towards the company due to his termination.
21 Air has not provided comments to CBS News but released a statement on its website expressing its commitment to fully cooperate with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation and extending condolences to the families of the deceased.
An Amazon representative stated that the company would defer to the NTSB regarding the investigation and to 21 Air concerning previously raised allegations. The spokesperson previously expressed deep sorrow over the fatalities and confirmed cooperation with authorities.
Retired pilot Tony Bless, who provided testimony in Seuring’s case, conveyed to CBS News that the crash was not entirely unexpected. “Many of us former 21 Air pilots anticipated something like this,” he remarked, citing ongoing maintenance safety issues, pressure from management, and the caliber of pilots hired by the company.
Bless claimed that the airline frequently postponed necessary maintenance and that technical failures often occurred with its aging converted passenger aircraft. He recounted a troubling experience on a flight from Bermuda to New Jersey in 2022 when the radar malfunctioned amid severe turbulence, compelling him to refuse to operate that specific aircraft until a new radar was installed.
