LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A UPS cargo plane tragically crashed and exploded into a massive fireball on Tuesday while taking off from the company's global aviation hub located in Louisville, Kentucky. The incident resulted in the deaths of at least seven individuals and left 11 others injured, according to authorities.
The plane, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 built in 1991, crashed around 5:15 p.m. as it departed for Honolulu from the UPS Worldport at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. Eyewitness videos captured flames engulfing the left wing of the aircraft, followed by a dramatic lift-off and an eventual crash that created a significant fireball. Furthermore, the footage revealed parts of a nearby building's roof that had been shredded due to the impact.
By Tuesday night, officials confirmed the death toll had climbed to at least seven, with four victims not being aboard the aircraft. Among the 11 injured individuals, some suffered “very significant” injuries, as stated by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. "Anyone who has seen the images, the video, knows how violent this crash is," he remarked, emphasizing the severity of the situation.
The UPS hub in Louisville, the largest package handling facility of the company, was reported to have suspended package sorting activities immediately following the crash, with no timeline provided for when normal operations would resume. The facility employs thousands of workers, manages around 300 daily flights, and sorts more than 400,000 packages each hour, making its closure critical to UPS operations.
Local council member Betsy Ruhe expressed concern for the community, indicating that many residents knew UPS employees who were anxiously texting friends and family, hoping for good news. Unfortunately, some messages may remain unanswered, raising fears as to the fate of those involved.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg announced that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into the crash and has deployed a team of 28 personnel to the scene. Meanwhile, the airport was closed and was not expected to resume operations until the following morning, complicating travel plans for many.
Authorities, led by Louisville Police Chief Paul Humphrey, noted the unpredictability of how long it would take to make the crash site safe for investigators and the public. One nearby business, Kentucky Petroleum Recycling, appeared to have been directly impacted by the crash, with reports of damage to a local auto parts operation as well.
Eric Richardson, who was at a nearby police training academy seeking information about his girlfriend, reported that she had been at a metal recycling business close to the explosion and had not responded to his messages. Her phone's live location indicated she was still at the site, causing him significant distress. His friend Bobby Whelan, who had been in line at the same business just before the explosion, reported hearing what he described as a bomb-like sound from a quarter-mile away.
Video footage taken by eyewitness Leirim Rodríguez showcased several massive fireballs erupting skyward in succession, creating large, billowing clouds of black smoke. Tom Brooks Jr., who operates a metal recycling business nearby, described the crash as having a magnitude that "just rocked the whole place," likening the scene to a war zone.
Destyn Mitchell, a host at an Outback restaurant located about 15 minutes away, recounted how patrons in her restaurant reacted to the loud boom; many quickly left their meals to return home in a state of concern. "The mood in the restaurant was very shaken up," she noted.
Pablo Rojas, an aviation attorney, analyzed the crash using video evidence, noting that the aircraft appeared to struggle to gain altitude while the fire blazed on its left side, around one of the engines. Given the significant amount of fuel it was carrying, he indicated that once the fire ignited in that area, an explosion was nearly inevitable. "The plane itself is almost acting like a bomb because of the amount of fuel," Rojas stated.
The Louisville airport is situated just a 10-minute drive from the downtown area, which features residential neighborhoods, a water park, and various museums, heightening the concern for surrounding communities.
