# Safety system stops plane overruns but most airports lack it

> EMAS technology could save lives in runway overruns but only 70 US airports have it installed.
- Title: Safety system stops plane overruns but most airports lack it
- Summary: EMAS technology could save lives in runway overruns but only 70 US airports have it installed. EMAS systems prevent plane crashes in runway overruns but most…
- Keywords: emas, runway overrun, ntsb, miami airport, boeing 767, runway safe, faa, airport safety, runway safety area, runway protection zone, runway end, crushable concrete
- Source: Valleynewslive — https://valleynewslive.com/2026/10/19/safety-system-can-stop-planes-that-overshoot-runways-most-airports-dont-have-it
- Published: 2026-10-19T17:19:11.77+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: emas, runway overrun, ntsb, miami airport, boeing 767, runway safe, faa, airport safety, runway safety area, runway protection zone, runway end, crushable concrete
## Miami crash aftermath
NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy called the crash 'devastating. utter devastation' after an Amazon cargo plane overshot Miami International Airport runway.

> Devastating. Utter devastation
## Runway overrun details
The Boeing 767 overshot the runway by 1,200 feet killing five people and is classified as an 'excursion' by the NTSB.

> excursion
## EMAS technology
Engineered material arresting system uses crushable concrete blocks to slow planes in runway overruns.

> crushable concrete
## EMAS manufacturer
Runway Safe is the sole US manufacturer of EMAS approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.

> Runway Safe
## EMAS installation
An average of 3,000-3,500 EMAS blocks are needed to create a system that slows planes in overruns.

> 3,000-3,500 blocks
## EMAS effectiveness
EMAS has stopped 26 aircraft overruns including Boeing 737s and Cessnas carrying passengers.

> 26 overruns
## EMAS adoption
Only 70 US airports have EMAS installed with 12 at major airports including JFK, O'Hare and Logan.

> 70 domestic facilities
## Runway safety zones
FAA requires 1,000-foot safety zones beyond runway ends but many airports lack space for them.

> 1,000-foot safety zones
## Runway safety risks
InvestigateTV mapped danger zones where public roads run through potential overrun areas at 500+ airports.

> 500 commercial airports
## Airport responses
BWI, BNA and PHX airports use displaced thresholds to meet FAA safety standards instead of EMAS.

> displaced thresholds
## Miami runway limits
The Miami runway had a 1,000-foot safety zone but the plane overshot by 1,200 feet.

> 1,200 feet
## EMAS speed limits
EMAS systems are designed to stop planes moving up to 70 knots but the Miami plane left at 112 knots.

> 70 knots
## EMAS limitations
EMAS cannot stop heavier aircraft or planes moving faster than 70 knots.

> 70 knots
## 2019 Maryland crash
A 2019 general aviation plane crashed through Maryland fencing after overrunning runway.

> 2019
## What next
NTSB is evaluating whether EMAS could have helped slow the Miami plane in the crash.

> evaluating
## Key takeaway

EMAS systems prevent plane crashes in runway overruns but most US airports lack the technology.