ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Five members of a Miami airport cleaning crew were killed earlier this month when an Amazon cargo jet smashed into their van.

Five other people were injured in the incident including the pilot and co-pilot. Three of the injured are still in hospital.

The cleaning team had apparently just completed an eight-hour shift when the Amazon jet overshot the runway and careered into their van. The jet, which was landing after a two-hour flight from Puerto Rico, then smashed through a fence and collided with an SUV on a city street.

The five deceased cleaning team members were employed by Professional Ocean Service Corp which has been servicing ‘planes at Miami International Airport for more than 15 years.

"Our employees are far more than the people who work beside us each day, they are family, and they are deeply loved," said Professional Ocean Service Corp in a statement after the crash.

Operatives' jobs entail disinfecting the inside and outside of private and commercial jets, replacing carpets and painting cabins. They are also expected to lug mops, brooms and other cleaning supplies up and down stairs while being exposed to harsh cleaners, bodily fluids and contaminants left by passengers.

32BJ Service Employees International Union represents more than 20,000 airport workers along the East Coast of the US. Airport cleaning workers typically have little experience and make close to minimum wage with no benefits, says president Manny Pastreich. "It is an incredibly hard job and not as well compensated as it should be," he said.

The crash is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board and Amazon is co-operating with the investigation.