Authorities have confirmed that at least 11 individuals perished after a UPS cargo plane crashed upon takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday evening.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear stated that the death toll is anticipated to rise, potentially including a child, following the explosion of the freight plane at approximately 17:15 local time (22:15 GMT) as it departed the airport.
According to the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB), the aircraft’s left engine caught fire and detached from the wing during takeoff, leading to a significant blaze that generated substantial smoke plumes.
In addition to the fatalities, over a dozen individuals sustained injuries ranging from burns and shrapnel wounds to smoke inhalation.
Officials have described the injuries of the survivors as “very significant.” Search and rescue operations are ongoing to locate other potential victims, as several individuals remain unaccounted for.
Governor Beshear indicated that the plane’s three-member crew is believed to be among those killed.
While a preliminary investigation is underway, officials emphasize that it is premature to determine the cause of the crash. Surveillance footage and data retrieved from the aircraft are aiding in the investigation.
Todd Inman of the NTSB, the lead agency in the investigation, confirmed that the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder, commonly referred to as the black box, have been recovered.
In a Wednesday update, Inman stated that CCTV surveillance footage revealed the aircraft’s left engine “detaching from the wing during the takeoff roll.” The video has not yet been made public.
He further explained that the plane managed to become airborne and clear a fence at the runway’s end before impacting multiple businesses in the vicinity of the airport.
Governor Beshear declared a state of emergency on Wednesday to expedite the allocation of resources through emergency management channels and the Kentucky National Guard.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg announced that the airport runway has been reopened to facilitate the resumption of flights.
Governor Beshear reported that at least 16 families have reported loved ones as missing.
As of Tuesday evening, two employees of the auto business struck by the plane remain unaccounted for. The number of customers present at the time of the crash is currently unknown.
In a statement, UPS acknowledged that three crew members were aboard the aircraft, adding that “we have not confirmed any injuries/casualties.”
Local officials stated on Wednesday that the precise number of victims being searched for remains unclear. The fire’s destruction of the plane has created a vast debris field, posing challenges to locating individuals.
Kentucky Representative Morgan McGarvey stated that 28 NTSB personnel are on-site and will “analyze absolutely every bit of what happened.”
Officials noted that the extensive fire was fueled by the significant quantity of fuel onboard the aircraft, which was preparing for a roughly 4,300-mile (6,920km) journey to Hawaii.
The plane was carrying 38,000 gallons (144,000 liters) of fuel at the time of the crash.
Representative McGarvey described the scene as “raining oil” in Louisville following the crash.
The nature of the cargo onboard has not been officially confirmed, although authorities have stated that the plane was not carrying materials that would pose an elevated risk of contamination.
The explosion engulfed at least two nearby businesses, including a petroleum recycling facility. Initially, a shelter-in-place order was issued for areas within five miles of the airport due to concerns about further explosions and air pollution. This order was subsequently reduced to a one-mile radius.
The airport announced on X (formerly Twitter) that all departing flights for Tuesday evening had been cancelled.
Louisville Fire Department Chief Brian O’Neal characterized the volume of fuel spilled at the crash site as a “very dangerous situation.”
The shelter-in-place order was reduced to a one-mile radius as crews worked to contain the blaze on Tuesday night.
At a press conference, Governor Beshear cautioned the public against visiting the crash site.
“Anyone who has seen the images and the video knows how violent this crash is,” he stated.
“There are still dangerous things that are flammable, that are potentially explosive.”
Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Paul Humphrey stated that the crash site will remain “an ongoing active scene for the next several days.”
He added, “We don’t know how long it’s going to take to render that scene safe for the investigation to take place.”
The aircraft involved was identified as an MD-11F triple-engine plane, which initially entered service as a passenger jet with Thai Airways 34 years ago before being transferred to UPS in 2006.
The aircraft was originally manufactured by McDonnell Douglas, which merged with Boeing in 1997.
In 2023, FedEx and UPS both announced intentions to begin phasing out their MD-11 fleets over the next decade as part of modernization efforts.
In a statement, Boeing affirmed its readiness to support its customer, stating, “Our concern is for the safety and well-being of all those affected.”
The company added that it will offer technical assistance to the NTSB.
Louisville is home to UPS Worldport, the delivery firm’s global air cargo hub and its largest package handling facility worldwide.
UPS issued a statement expressing its deep sorrow over the incident and announced the suspension of package sorting operations at Worldport on Tuesday night.
The company stated, “UPS is committed to the safety of our employees, our customers, and the communities we serve. This is particularly true in Louisville, home to our airline and thousands of UPSers.”
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BBC Verify has pieced together clips being shared online to see how the crash unfolded in Kentucky.