UPS Cargo Plane Crashes Near Louisville Airport
A UPS cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky on Tuesday.
Crash Details
The Federal Aviation Administration reported that UPS flight 2976, bound for Honolulu with three crew members onboard, went down at approximately 5:15 p.m. The aircraft crashed about three miles south of the airport.
Aftermath and Response
- Videos showed a fireball and a large plume of smoke following the crash.
- The wreckage caused a massive fire fueled by approximately 38,000 gallons of jet fuel.
- First responders are actively working to extinguish the fire and investigate the incident.
- A mass emergency response has been mobilized by local and nearby fire and police departments.
Casualties
The death toll has reached at least nine, including confirmed fatalities on the ground. Officials expect the number to rise.
"First responders are on-site and working hard to extinguish the fire and continue the investigation," said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear on Tuesday night.
"We do not, at the moment, have the status of the crew," Beshear said during a press conference earlier that evening.
Cargo and Safety Information
Governor Beshear confirmed there was no specifically hazardous cargo on board, though the fire remains a significant hazard in the area.
"So we're talking about a very, very dangerous situation," said Louisville Fire Department Chief Brian O'Neill, referring to the large amount of fuel on the plane.
Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 indicates the plane crashed less than a minute after taking off from Runway 17R.
Author’s Summary
The tragic UPS plane crash near Louisville has caused significant loss of life and a major emergency response due to the intense fire and dangerous conditions at the site.