UPS Plane Crash at Louisville Airport Leaves Seven Dead

A UPS cargo plane crash at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky resulted in seven fatalities and multiple injuries. The incident occurred shortly after the aircraft took off at 17:15 local time on March 12, 2024. Eyewitness footage revealed the plane’s left wing engulfed in flames as it struggled to gain altitude before plummeting to the ground.

The plane, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F, was carrying approximately 38,000 gallons of fuel at the time of the accident. Upon impact, the aircraft erupted into a fireball, leading to significant destruction on the ground and injuries to eleven individuals, two of whom are reported to be in critical condition. Four of the deceased were not onboard the plane, according to local authorities.

The dramatic footage captured during take-off shows smoke trailing from the plane’s left wing. Pablo Rojas, an aviation attorney, noted the aircraft was likely unable to maintain altitude due to the fire near one of its engines. He emphasized the danger posed by the large fuel load, stating, “Really the plane itself is almost acting like a bomb because of the amount of fuel.”

Mary Schiavo, a former inspector general for the U.S. Department of Transportation, reported that the engine appeared to have detached from the aircraft prior to the crash and subsequent explosion.

Investigation Underway

In the aftermath of the incident, both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have initiated investigations to determine the cause of the crash.

The fire extended to nearby businesses, including a fuel recycling facility, which bore the brunt of the aircraft’s impact. A car parts business was also affected by the wreckage. Fire Chief Brian O’Neill confirmed that the crash triggered “secondary explosions” due to ruptured storage tanks containing propane and oil. The firefighting operation involved hundreds of firefighters working through the night to contain the blaze over a wide area.

Louisville Police Chief Paul Humphrey addressed the media, stating that the timeline for rendering the scene safe remains unclear. The airport was closed immediately following the crash and is not expected to reopen for several hours.

Ongoing investigations and recovery efforts are likely to take time, as the area continues to be secured for safety. The tragic incident has raised significant concerns regarding aviation safety and emergency response protocols.

As the investigation unfolds, more information is expected to emerge about the circumstances leading to this devastating crash at one of the United States’ key transportation hubs.