A UPS cargo plane crashed shortly after take off, erupting into a massive fireball near the Louisville Muhammad Ali international airport in Kentucky, leaving at least seven dead and 11 injured, the state’s governor, Andy Beshear, said. Beshear said he expects the numbers to grow.
The burning flames from the crash left a cord on the ground in an industrial corridor next to the international airport, apparently accounting for a confirmed death and the injuries of 11 people, who according to airport officials were taken to the hospital.
The plane, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11, had three crew members on board and crashed at 5.15pm local time, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. It is bound for Honolulu.
Beshear earlier said he believed there were at least three deaths, but the number would rise as emergency crews cleared the debris. He added that the crash occurred in two businesses: a recycling center, which took a direct hit, and an auto shop where all but two employees were accounted for. Their identities will be released soon, Beshear added.
The governor said there was no dangerous cargo on the planes.
Federal officials said everyone on board was feared dead. A spokesman for AIRIP in Louisville later confirmed a fourth death. Craig Greenberg, the Mayor of Louisville, said in a news conference on Tuesday night that the four people who were confirmed dead were not on the plane.
Television Channel Wlky, a CBS affiliate, showed video footage of the crash as it happened. The plane burst into flames on one wing, and a large fireball exploded as it hit the ground. Several buildings in an industrial area beyond the track were set on fire after the crash, with thick smoke billowing the night sky.
“Looking at that video, I think we’re all very worried about them,” he said to the plane’s crew members and missing employees.
All flights leaving Tuesday night have been canceled, read a note in Louisville airport website.
FAA records show the plane involved in the crash, an MD-11 freighter, is 34 years old. Boeing, which shut down the MD-11 program after it was acquired in the McDonnell Douglas merger, said it was concerned about all those affected, and it would provide technical support to the investigation.
Fluntradar24 said the plane, which started ups in 2006, flew from Louisville to Baltimore earlier Tuesday before returning to Louisville. A flight from Louisville to Honolulu usually takes 8.5 hours, the flight tracking service says.
The plane climbed to a height of 175 feet and reached a speed of 184 knots before making a sharp descent, according to data from Flandradar24.
The National Transportation Safety Board will lead an official investigation that is ongoing, a UPS spokesperson said in a statement to the Guardian.
Greenberg urges residents to report any litter that may have found its way into their neighborhoods through a Online form. “We ask that residents not touch or move their trash,” Greenberg said.
“I want to send my prayers to the families of the victims of this terrible crash,” he said.
A large plume of smoke was seen south of the airport shortly after. The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) said multiple agencies responded to reports of the crash.
In a post on X, Beshear described the situation as “serious” and said he was going to Louisville.
“We have almost every fire, police, emergency response team responding right now to what you’re seeing,” Beshear said at the press conference.
“This is an active scene with fire and debris,” Lemph said in a statement. “Stay away.”
Videos posted on social media show an active explosion.
An in-place order issued for all locations within 5 miles of the airport, which is closed. The order was later expanded to “all areas north of the Ohio River airport”, covering most of the city.
“Please stay away from the area until further notice,” LMPD added.
“There are many injuries and the fire is still burning. There are many road closures in the area – please avoid the scene,” Craig Greenbilg, a Post Mayor on Social Media before 7pmet