At least 3 people were killed and 11 injured as the jet crashed into buildings outside Louisville airport in Kentucky
A cargo plane exploded during take‑off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky, resulting in at least three fatalities and 11 injured, local officials said, as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launched an investigation.
The FAA confirmed that UPS Flight 2976 – a McDonnell Douglas MD‑11 freighter operated by UPS Airlines – crashed around 5:15pm local time on Tuesday while departing Louisville en route to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu.
Footage from the scene showed a fiery wreck near the end of the runway. A plume of black smoke rose high above the crash site, and flames were seen consuming nearby industrial buildings. “This is an active scene with fire and debris. Stay away,” the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) said.
A shelter‑in‑place order was issued for all locations within a five‑mile radius of the airport. Grade Lane between Stooges and Crittenden was closed indefinitely, and the airport suspended all operations.
UPS confirmed that three crewmembers were on board the aircraft at the time of the crash. While early reports did not immediately confirm their status, officials later said at least three people were killed and 11 were injured, and indicated the number of casualties may rise.
Flight‑tracking data showed the MD‑11 reached an altitude of approximately 175 feet and a speed of 184 knots before descending rapidly and crashing.
The crash occurred near UPS’s global air‑cargo hub in Louisville, the company’s largest package‑handling facility. The incident is expected to cause significant disruptions to the company’s operations, which handle more than two million packages daily.
Boeing, which acquired McDonnell Douglas in 1997, said it was concerned for the safety and well‑being of all affected and will provide technical support to the investigation.
You can share this story on social media:
Read the full article here