Latest on UPS cargo plane crash in Kentucky
A cargo aircraft operated by UPS Airlines crashed and erupted into a fireball shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky on Tuesday evening, killing at least seven people and injuring 11 others, according to authorities. The wide‑body McDonnell Douglas MD‑11 departed from UPS’s global aviation hub, known as “Worldport”, bound for Honolulu, when flames were seen shooting from its left wing during climb. The aircraft, built in 1991, reportedly carried a heavy fuel load for its long‑haul flight and lost altitude shortly after takeoff before crashing into an industrial area adjacent to the airport. Among the fatalities, four were confirmed to be on the ground rather than aboard the plane. Thick black smoke and multiple explosions were captured in video footage showing the aircraft lifting briefly off the ground, its left wing engulfed in flames, followed by a massive impact and fireball that swept through nearby structures. The crash forced the closure of two runways at the airport and halted UPS’s sorting operations at the Louisville hub, potentially affecting thousands of package deliveries globally. Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched an in‑depth probe into the causes of the disaster, including the possibility of an engine separation and the failure of the aircraft to maintain flight with two remaining engines. Local authorities described the scene as resembling a “war zone” and warned that the death toll could rise as rescue teams continued recovering victims and navigating hazardous conditions due to fuel‑fed fires and debris.
What's Your Reaction?
Like
0
Dislike
0
Love
0
Funny
0
Angry
0
Sad
0
Wow
0
