At least seven people have been confirmed dead after a UPS cargo plane crashed while taking off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening.
The tragic accident, which occurred around 5:15 p.m., caused a massive fire and struck an area that housed two local businesses.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear described the event as “a catastrophic crash,” confirming that “at least seven people are dead, with that number expected to rise.” He also noted that 11 individuals were injured and are receiving medical attention.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), UPS Flight 2976 a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft had three crew members on board and was headed for Honolulu when it went down moments after takeoff.
The crash site, located about three miles south of the airfield, was engulfed in flames as first responders rushed to contain the blaze.
Video footage from the scene showed thick black smoke billowing into the sky as emergency teams battled the fire.
Officials revealed that the plane was carrying about 38,000 gallons of fuel, intensifying the fire and triggering several explosions after the crash.
Louisville Metro Emergency Services Director Edward Meiman said rescue teams worked tirelessly through the evening.
“Obviously, everybody can see how big this site actually is,” Meiman said. “Authorities are going door to door to make sure that businesses and facilities have everyone accounted for and have left the immediate area.”
Governor Beshear confirmed that the aircraft hit a petroleum recycling facility and an auto parts business located adjacent to the airport.
He explained that while the auto parts business accounted for most of its employees, two individuals remained unaccounted for.
“Because of the nature of these facilities, it may be some time before we can account for everyone or know that no one else was on the grounds,” Beshear stated.
Meanwhile, airport spokesperson Officer Johnathan Biven reported that the crash occurred during departure from the west runway.
He added that investigators from the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have already begun assessing the scene to determine the cause of the disaster.
Authorities have yet to confirm what led to the fatal crash, but initial findings suggest a possible mechanical failure during takeoff.
However, officials stressed that it is too early to make any conclusions until the NTSB completes its investigation.
Governor Beshear extended his condolences to the victims’ families, pledging that state resources would be fully deployed for recovery and investigation efforts.
