A UPS freight aircraft burst into flames after crashing during takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday evening, killing seven people and injuring at least 11 others, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed.
The accident occurred around 5:15pm local time (22:15 GMT) as the plane was departing for Honolulu, sending huge columns of black smoke towering above the area, reports BBC
Governor Beshear said the aircraft’s three crew members were likely among the deceased. “Anyone who has seen the images and the video knows how violent this crash is,” he said. Officials warned that several victims suffered “very significant” injuries and that the number of deaths could rise.
UPS Flight 2976 was loaded with 38,000 gallons of fuel when it veered off the runway and collided with nearby buildings, triggering an enormous explosion that engulfed at least two establishments, including a petroleum recycling facility.
Authorities initially imposed a shelter-in-place order within a five-mile radius of the airport due to risks of further blasts and toxic fumes, later narrowing it to one mile. All outgoing flights were cancelled for the evening, airport officials confirmed in a post on X.
Louisville Fire Department Chief Brian O’Neill said the inferno was mostly contained but operations continued through the night. “When you have such a large scale incident and fire that spread over such a massive area, we have to use hundreds of personnel to surround it, contain it, and then slowly bring it in,” he said.
He added, “These are trained firefighters from all around the region that are handling this to search, grid by grid, very carefully to make sure if we can find any other victims.”
At a briefing, Governor Beshear urged people to stay away from the crash site. “There are still dangerous things that are flammable, that are potentially explosive,” he warned. He also declined to comment on the cause of the crash, saying the National Transportation Safety Bureau (NTSB) would lead the investigation.
The NTSB’s investigation team is expected to arrive in Kentucky on Wednesday. Louisville Police Chief Paul Humphrey said the area would remain “an ongoing active scene for the next several days.”
“We don’t know how long it’s going to take to render that scene safe for the investigation to take place,” he said.
The ill-fated aircraft was an MD-11F, a tri-engine jet originally produced by McDonnell Douglas and later incorporated under Boeing following their 1997 merger. The plane first entered service 34 years ago with Thai Airways before joining the UPS fleet in 2006.
In a statement, Boeing said it is “ready to support our customer” and that “our concern is for the safety and well-being of all those affected,” adding that it would assist the NTSB technically.
Louisville, home to UPS Worldport—the company’s largest air cargo hub and package-handling facility—has been deeply affected by the tragedy.
“This is a UPS town,” said Louisville Metro Council member Betsy Ruhe. “They’re all texting their friends, their family, trying to make sure everyone is safe.”
UPS said it was “terribly saddened” by the crash and suspended sorting operations at Worldport on Tuesday night. “UPS is committed to the safety of our employees, and customers and the communities we serve. This is particularly true in Louisville, home to our airline and thousands of UPSers,” the company said.
State Senator Keturah Herron said, “Many of us watch our family members and loved ones pass through [Louisville airport] on a regular basis.”
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg called the crash “an incredible tragedy that our community will never forget.” He added, “We are so thankful for our brave first responders who have flooded the scene to help try and control the fire and provide support for any victims on the ground.”
